| Abstract: | 1. A study has been carried out on the effect of i.v. infusion of biliverdin and bilirubin at four different dose strengths in sodium pentobarbital-anaesthetized rabbits. 2. Both pigments show similar values for the maximum excretion rate in bile. 3. At doses of 0.45 and 0.60 mg/kg/min, the infusion of biliverdin does not affect bile flow in the resting state, contrary to the negative effect on flow induced by bilirubin. 4. This negative effect induced by bilirubin on bile flow is explained on the basis of its inhibitory action on the bile salt independent fraction (BSIF). |
