Studies on the flow and composition of bile in growing pigs.

Abstract

AbstractA method is described for measuring the rate of flow and composition of bile entering the duodenum of the pig with minimal interference to the normal physiological processes of bile secretion. Eight pigs of 25‐30 kg initial liveweight were fitted with reentrant catheters in the common bile duct. Two different diets were used: these contained barley, fine wheat offal, white fish‐meal, minerals and vitamins (diet BWF), starch, sucrose, casein, maize oil, cellulose, minerals and vitamins (diet SSC). The flow of bile in 24 h was calculated from the rate of drop formation in a small Perspex drop chamber. Variation in flow between and within pigs was high. Mean values for total flow of bile, and of water, dry matter, ash, total lipid and total nitrogen in the bile were: 1733, 1656, 76.9, 18.6, 11.0, 1.9 g 24 h‐1, respectively, for diet BWF, and 1182, 1132, 49.7, 12.6, 8.1, 1.8 g 24 h‐1, respectively, for diet SSC. The hourly pattern of bile flow appeared different for the two diets; for both diets, however, bile was calculated to contribute a maximum of 15% of the total endogenous material added to digesta collected from the duodenum.