Contribution of the fluid phase endocytosis to bile flow in cholestasis and choleresis in rats

Using a single iv injection of 1 mg Evans blue dye/100 g body wt in rats, the contribution of the fluid phase endocytosis to bile flow was estimated. In control rats, this pathway contributed 2-4% of the bile flow or 10-20 microliter/hr/100 g body wt. This contribution was not affected by cholestasis induced by taurolithocholic acid or bile duct obstruction or by choleresis induced by dehydrocholic acid. It is concluded that fluid phase endocytosis does not significantly influence bile formation but, rather, may be implicated in the remodeling of liver cell plasma membranes.