| Abstract: | Intravenous infusion of bilirubin (BR) at 171 micrograms/min/kg into rabbits resulted in biliary concentration of BR increasing from 3.8 (control) to 243 mg/dl and BR excretion increasing from 1.7 to 66 micrograms/min/kg. BR infusion resulted in biliary concentrations of biliverdin (BV) increasing from 9.1 to 30 g/dl and BV excretion increasing from 4.2 to 8.2 micrograms/min/kg. BR infusion produced a progressive decline in bile flow. BV was the predominant bile pigment in control rabbits fed either an alfalfa-based or chlorophyll-free diet. These results imply that rabbits can oxidize BR to BV. |
