title: Hepatocyte-mediated transport to the bile of AMI-HS, a particulate contrast agent.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The elimination of hepatocyte-directed particulate contrast agents has not been studied in the same detail as particles eliminated mainly by the mononuclear phagocyte system. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the fate of these particles by a multidisciplinary approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  After intravenous injection of AMI-HS particles directed to the hepatocytes, rats were killed and cytological studies, by both electron microscopy and histochemistry, and spectroscopic studies of the bile were performed. The data were compared with a dynamic magnetic resonance study of the heart and liver.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The particles were rapidly cleared from the blood by Kupffer cells and hepatocytes and then found first in the vascular and later in the biliary pole of the hepatocytes. After 24 hours, a relaxometric characterization of the bile showed the presence of unchanged particles in the bile.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results show the capacity of the liver to excrete unchanged AMI-HS particles directly into the bile.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Hôtel Dieu, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Nantes, France. benoit.dupas@chu-nantes.fr
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dupas
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pradal
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bonnemain
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Meflah
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bach-Gansmo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001646:Bile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D001692:Biological Transport; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D051381:Rats; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: C440249:AMI-HS cpd; D003287:Contrast Media; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D007501:Iron