The effect of portocaval shunt on bile flow and maximal biliary excretion of bromsulfophthalein sodium (BSP) in rats with thioacetamide induced liver cirrhosis.

Thioacetamide (TAA) causes experimental liver cirrhosis in rats. TAA was administered (50 mg per kg body weight i.p. daily) to sham-operated and shunted rats for eight weeks. Then in pentobarbital anesthesia, bile flow and the maximal biliary excretion (Tm) of BSP were measured using constant infusion technique. Compared to the controls, BSP Tm values decreased significantly in cirrhotic rats. The change results from the lower concentration of dye. In cirrhotic animals the liver cannot excrete the dye per net fluid volume as efficiently, as in the controls. In animals having portocaval shunts and liver cirrhosis, a further decrease of dye excretion can be observed, indicating that the operation has some influence on the canalicular excretion of certain organic anions.