Saturation of hepatic transport of taurocholate in rats in vivo

A single intravenous injection of ( super(14)C)taurocholate was followed up in blood and bile or rats submitted to steady intravenous infusions of taurocholate (TC) at rates of 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mu mol multiplied by min super(-1) multiplied by 100 g body wt super(-1) for at least 30 min. The transport rate constants and the amounts of TC in different compartments were estimated. The results support the hypothesis that the saturation of the transport of TC is due to TC hepatotoxicity and can be reduced by tauroursodeoxycholate.