Bile secretion in rats with indomethacin-induced intestinal inflammation

The objective of this study was to characterize the bile secretion, including the composition of biliary bile acids, bile salt pool size, and transcytotic vesicle transport, in a rat model of subacute intestinal inflammation induced by indomethacin. Indomethacin treatment significantly decreased bile acid-independent bile flow and biliary secretion of bile acid and cholesterol, while increasing biliary phospholipid output in vivo. Although indomethacin treatment did not change the bile salt pool size in vivo, alpha- and beta-muricholic acids were significantly decreased and hyodeoxycholic and deoxycholic acids were increased in bile. Bile flow and the transport maximum of taurocholate did not decrease, and biliary horseradish peroxidase output was significantly enhanced in isolated perfused livers from indomethacin-treated rats. Endotoxin in the portal blood was significantly increased in rats treated with indomethacin. Clindamycin slightly reduced intestinal inflammation but significantly prevented decreases in bile flow, bile acid output, and transport maximum of taurocholate. We conclude that, although biliary secretory function was apparently decreased in vivo, that of hepatocyte function was maintained in this model.