The Disaccharide Effect of Sucrose Feeding on Glucuronide Excretion and Bile Concentration of Injected Phenolphthalein in Guinea Pigs

Abstract

The hypothesis tested was that feeding guinea pigs sucrose produces a more rapid concentration in the bile and excretion in the feces and urine of substances catabolized by the liver than does feeding invert sugar (50:5) mixture of glucose and fructose). Fifty male guinea pigs of the Hartley strain were divided into two groups of 25 animals each and fed for 4 wk repelleted nonpurified diet with 20% of total energy provided by sucrose or invert sugar. At the end of 4 wk all 50 animals were injected i.p. with a dose of 15 mg/kg body weight of phenolphthalein. Phenolphthalein is excreted almost quantitatively in feces. After injection all guinea pigs were housed in metabolism cages. Urine and feces were recovered and analyzed for free glucuronic acid and glucuronide content by a modified naphthoresorcinol procedure over 24 h. Guinea pigs fed sucrose produced more urine than those fed invert sugar, although there was no difference in water intake. After 24 h 15 animals in each group were killed, and the bile was sampled from their gall bladders to determine its phenolphthalein content. The remaining 10 animals in each group were held three additional days when they were killed and their bile was sampled to determine its phenolphthalein content. All biliary phenolphthalein was in conjugated form. Guinea pigs fed sucrose had less free glucuronic acid in their feces than those fed invert sugar. Feeding sucrose resulted in a higher bile conjugated phenolphthalein content 4 d after injection than did feeding invert sugar. Guinea pigs fed sucrose excreted more urinary glucuronides over 24 h than did those fed invert sugar. This tended to confirm the original hypothesis.