Abstract

The effect of ethacrynic acid on bile formation was studied in five species of animals. Ethacrynic acid was injected i.v. in anesthetized sheep, dogs and rabbits and conscious rats, guinea pigs and sheep prepared with fistulas of the common bile duct. In all animals, increases in bile flow were recorded within 10 minutes after injection of ethacrynic acid. After a period of choleresis, the bile flow returned to the control level recorded during constant infusion of bile salts to each animal. The increases in bile flow were associated with increases in the output of sodium, potassium and chloride in bile and there were no changes in bile salt output measured in sheep, dogs, rats and rabbits. These results indicate that ethacrynic acid may increase inorganic salt ouput in bile. Although the exact origin of this fraction of bile is unknown, its production would seem to be independent of bile salt secretion.