Biliary excretion of ouabain in isolated perfused rat liver after treatment with microsomal enzyme inducers

The effect of pretreatment with spironolactone, phenobarbital and 3,4-benzpyrene on biliary excretion of ouabain was studied in isolated perfused rat liver system after a single dose of 3H-ouabain. Spironolactone pretreatment (100 mg/kg intraperitoneally for 4 days) changed the time course of the excretion, thus accelerating the transport of ouabain into the bile. Phenobarbital pretreatment (75 mg/kg intraperitoneally for 4 days) enhanced bile flow and increased biliary excretion of ouabain only after 15 min. At longer time periods the increase in bile flow diluted the bile level of ouabain there being no difference in the amounts excreted into the bile between the treated and untreated groups. 3,4-benzpyrene pretreatment (20 mg/kg intraperitoneally for 4 days) was without efffect on biliary excretion of ouabain. The results suggest that spironolactone differs from phenobarbital in its enhancing effect on biliary excretion of ouabain, possibly through a specific effect on an unknown hepatic transport mechanism. (author)