Bile flow rate and cholesterol content in mice fed a gallstone-inducing diet

¹ Department of Pharmacology, State University of New York, Upstate Medical Center, Syracuse, New York

Polyethylene tubing (i.d. 0.023 in.) was found to be of uniform bore. Therefore, it was possible to cannulate the gall bladder of anesthetized, common-duct-ligated mice and measure the rate of bile flow by marking off 10-min collection periods with thin black plastic tape. Rate of flow for each mouse (cm of tubing/10 min) was calculated from at least three consecutive 10-min flow periods during which the rate was maximal and linear. The rate for male chow-fed controls was 6.9 ± se 0.14. Mice fed a 1% cholesterol, 0.5% cholic acid (C-CA) gallstone-inducing diet for 2 days, 5 days, and 2 months showed rates of 10.6 ± 1.1, 15.5 ± 1.48, and 34.8 ± 3.8. The rate for females on chow and after 2 months on the C-CA diet was significantly higher than that for males. Treatment of females with testosterone and of males with estrone caused a reversal of the sex difference. Cholesterol concentration of hepatic bile was no higher after 2 months on the C-CA diet than after 2 days, but total cholesterol secreted per unit time (concentration x flow rate) was significantly elevated at 2 months.

Key Words: bile flow rate (mouse) • diet and bile flow rate • adaptive increase bile flow • choleresis in mouse • sex steroids and bile flow rate

Submitted on August 7, 1963

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