Martin C. Carey – 1 September 1984 – The number, position and orientation of nuclear OH substituents profoundly influence the equilibrium solubilities of undissociated bile acids in water. Estimates from several studies range from 5 × 10″8 for lithocholic acid to 1.6 × 10−3 Af for ursocholic acid at 37°C. Fully dissociated sodium bile salts are extremely soluble in water, attaining values as high as 1 to 2 M. However, ionized unconjugated bile salts are appreciably less soluble than their glycine and taurine conjugates.

Alan F. Hofmann – 1 September 1984 – A brief review is given of the chemistry of bile acids, emphasizing the relationship between chemical structure, physical properties and enterohepatic cycling of the major primary and secondary bile acids. Features of the enterohepatic circulation of primary and secondary bile acids in man are summarized. The effects of bile acid feeding on the composition of the enterohepatic circulation in man are reviewed. Methods for characterizing the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids in man are tabulated.

Steven M. Strasberg, P. Robert C. Harvey, Steven Gallinger – 1 September 1984 – Difficulties in obtaining proper bile samples are due to inaccessibility of the biliary tree and to distortions induced by sampling methods. One must be cognizant of the effects of diet on bile secretion and gallbladder motility. Experimental methods which interrupt the enterohepatic circulation or alter the intestinal migrating myoelectric complex induce spurious changes in bile flow and composition. Biliary tract pressure‐flow relationships must be maintained or the gallbladder will be made functionless.

Lisa Lo Presti – 1 September 1984

Johannes Gaub, Johan Iversen – 1 September 1984 – In previous studies, 90% partial hepatectomy in the rat was invariably accompanied by 100% mortality within 40 hr. This paper describes a technique by which 90% of the liver mass can be removed with only 14% mortality, provided that rats have free access to glucose‐containing drinking water. Measurements of total liver DNA, [3H]thymidine labeling index and mitotic index suggest rapid cell proliferation, commensurate with a powerful regenerative stimulus.

Alan F. Hofmann – 1 September 1984 – Bile contains four calcium anions which are readily precipitated by calcium: bilirubinate, “palmitate”, carbonate and phosphate. Precipitation of insoluble calcium salts is common in calculous biliary disease. All animal models of calcium cholelithiasis probably share a common pathogenesis‐an increased concentration of a calcium‐sensitive anion. In calcium bilirubinate cholelithiasis, an increased concentration of bilirubinate occurs.

1 September 1984

Adrian Reuben – 1 September 1984 – The study of biliary proteins has grown enormously in the last 10 years. Although much has been recently learned about the nature, origin and hepatobiliary transport of these proteins, little is known of their function in bile or their effect on its physical state. This review will focus on description of the proteins and mechanisms by which they are secreted into bile.

Adrian Reuben – 1 September 1984

W. Wayne Lautt, Dallas J. Legare, Timothy R. Daniels – 1 September 1984 – Compounds reaching the liver do so via either the hepatic artery or the portal vein. This paper reports on the effectiveness of administration of compounds into these alternate routes for their effects on the hepatic parenchymal cells, the hepatic arterial resistance vessels (blood flow) and hepatic capacitance (blood volume responses). All tests were done on cats under pentobarbital anesthesia.