Effects of ursodeoxycholate on maximal biliary secretion of bilirubin in the rat

Review article: mechanisms of action and therapeutic applications of ursodeoxycholic acid in chronic liver diseases

“… 42 , 46 , 47 In addition, UDCA stimulates the secretion of bile acids and other organic anions (e.g. bilirubin, bromosulfophthalein) in isolated hepatocytes, 89 isolated perfused rat liver, 90 , 91 bile fistula rats, 41 , 92 , 93 and patients with PBC, PSC and cystic fibrosis (CF) 94 –96 . In line with these observations, UDCA treatment lowers serum levels of endogenous bile acids and bilirubin in PBC and PSC patients 32 , 83 , 97 –100 and reduces serum levels of endogenous bile acids and potentially cholestatic progesterone metabolites in patients with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy 101 –103 .…”

Prevention of gallstones by ursodeoxycholic acid after cardiac surgery

“…20,21 With the administration of UDCA, the volume of bile secretion is reportedly increased 1.7 times compared with basal secretion. 22 Shimokura et al 21 speculated that UDCA could increase bile flow by direct stimulation of ductular secretion. UDCA stimulates a bicarbonate-rich choleresis.…”

A randomized trial in primary biliary cirrhosis comparing ursodeoxycholic acid in daily doses of either 10 mg/kg or 20 mg/kg

“…UDCA decreases the hydrophobicity index of the bile acid pool and may prevent liver cell damage caused by endogenous hydrophobic bile acids 42 –44 . Furthermore, stabilization of cell membranes 45 , 46 and a choleretic effect may contribute to the therapeutic effect of UDCA 47 . Although the therapeutic effect of UDCA in cholestatic liver disease may correlate with the degree of UDCA enrichment of the bile acid pool, this could not be confirmed in our study, suggesting the importance of other factors in the mechanism of action of UDCA.…”