Abstract
Summary
The biliary excretion of administered unconjugated bilirubin in the newborn rat was demonstrated to be immature. Newborn rats were treated with microsomal enzyme inducers to determine whether they would enhance the overall hepatic excretory system responsible for the biliary excretion of bilirubin. 1-, 6-, 11-, 16-, 21-, or 26-day-old rats were pretreated for 4 days with phenobarbital, pregnenolone-16 α-carboni-trile, spironolactone, or 3-methylcholan-threne. On the fifth day, [3H]bilirubin was administered (30 mg/kg). Twenty minutes later the amount of bilirubin excreted into the intestine was determined. Spironolactone and pregnenolone-16 α-carbonitrile enhanced the biliary excretion of bilirubin but phenobarbital and 3-methylcholanthrene were without effect.
The author wishes to acknowledge the technical assistance of Judson Maillie, Celeste Soutee, and Jean Fahrbach.
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