Abstract
Perfusion of 9α-bilirubin in isotonic bicarbonate buffered saline into hamster small bowel in vivo was performed in order to elucidate the mechanism of the diarrhea associated with phototherapy. Solutions of bilirubin, 0.125 to 0.75mM, produced dose dependent secretion (negative net flux) of H20 and Na+ (table); similar concentrations have been observed in the bile of the Gunn rat subjected to phototherapy. At 0.5mM significant protein loss occurred (table) but there was no biochemical evidence of significant enterocyte injury as measured by effluent loss of DNA, lac-tase and sucrase (table) or post-perfusion mucosal activities of lactase and sucrase, 5.3 ± 0.9 (SD) vs 5.6 ± 0.9 (p> .05) and 14.2 ± 3.1 vs 17.1 ± 3.5 (p > .05) units/mg/protein respectively. These data provide evidence that the diarrhea associated with phototherapy is the result of bowel secretion and not the manifestation of carbohydrate malabsorption as previously thought.
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Whitington, P., Odell, G. 480 SMALL BOWEL SECRETION INDUCED BY UNCONJUGATED BILIRUBIN. Pediatr Res 12 (Suppl 4), 443 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00485
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00485