Taurocholate accelerates bile canalicular contractions in isolated rat hepatocytes.
The influence of sodium taurocholate on bile canalicular contractions was examined by time-lapse cinephotomicrography of isolated rat hepatocytes in primary monolayer cultures. Frame-by-frame analyses indicates that as the dose of taurocholate increased, the number of contractions increased in a dose-dependent manner up to 5 microM. Because bile canaliculi are the smallest biliary passages across which bile secretion occurs, and because it is known that taurocholic acid within the dose range used in these studies causes a linear increase in bile secretion, the results suggest that canalicular contractions may be a function of canalicular bile secretion.
D000818:Animals; D001648:Bile Canaliculi / Q000187:drug effects*; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D009040:Motion Pictures; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013656:Taurocholic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors
D013656:Taurocholic Acid