PLASMA DISAPPEARANCE AND BILIARY EXCRETION OF INDOCYANINE GREEN IN RATS, RABBITS AND DOGS

The plasma disappearance of indocyanine green (ICG) was examined with a number of rapidly administered doses in the rat, rabbit, and dog. Over a 32-min period, the rate of disappearance was exponential in all three species, and the half-life increased with increasing doses of ICG. The rabbit exhibited a greater capacity to remove ICG from plasma than did the rat; the dog had the lowest capacity. With infusions of ICG, it was found that the flow of bile decreased as the dose of ICG was increased. This effect was most pronounced in the rat and least in the dog. In none of the three species was it possible to reach maximally sustained rates of biliary excretion of ICG. In contrast, the rapid administration of ICG had little or no effect on the flow of bile in the three species. © 1969.