THE RELATIVE EFFECTS OF DIVERSION OF BILE TO THE ILEUM OR TO THE URINARY BLADDER ON FAT ABSORPTION AND GASTROINTESTINAL MOTILITY IN THE RAT

¹ Department of Physiology, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia

Fat absorption, stomach emptying and intestinal motility were studied in rats in which the bile had been diverted to the terminal ileum or to the urinary bladder 7-10 days previously. Diversion of bile to the ileum should interfere little with the enterohepatic circulation and thus allow a normal blood and tissue level of bile salts. Diversion to the bladder should produce a total bile fistula.

In both experimental groups, fat recovery from the gut lumen after 48 hr. starvation was greater than in the controls. Diversion of bile to the bladder markedly depressed the absorption of a test meal containing coconut oil over a 3-hr. test period. Diversion to the ileum, however, had no such effect. These results are consistent with an important intracellular, rather than intraluminal, role of bile salts.

Stomach emptying and movement of a marker substance through the small intestine were normal in the group with bile diverted to the ileum. Stomach emptying was more rapid than normal and movement through the small intestine was delayed in the group with bile diverted to the bladder. Probably the effects on absorption of fat and gut motility are not interdependent.

Note:

We would like to thank Mr. C. Boundy, C.S.I.R.O., for statistical advice and analyses and Miss M. Donovan for skilled technical assistance.