The present studies were carried out to clarify the mechanism of glucagon choleresis in guinea pigs. At the infusion rate of 1.4 nmol.min-1.kg-1, glucagon increased bile flow from 206.6 +/- 14.3 to 302.6 +/- 35.0 microliters.min-1.kg-1 and bicarbonate biliary concentration from 63.7 +/- 4.2 to 75.5 +/- 5.9 meq/l. Measurements of bile acid excretion in bile, the biliary tree volume, and of the hormone choleretic effect in guinea pigs with proliferated bile ductules/ducts induced by alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate feeding indicated that glucagon, unlike secretin, stimulated canalicular bile flow. Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis by indomethacin administration (5 mg.kg-1.h-1) did not modify the choleretic effect of glucagon, and infusion of a glucagon analogue (TH-glucagon, 1.4 nmol.min-1.kg-1), which did not increase hepatic formation of adenosine 3'5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP), failed to stimulate bile flow. Like the parent hormone, however, TH-glucagon augmented plasma glucose levels and stimulated formation of inositol phosphates. Colchicine pretreatment (0.5 mg/kg ip) almost entirely prevented the choleretic effect of glucagon but did not modify spontaneous and bile acid-induced bile flow and the stimulatory effect of the hormone on glucose release and on hepatic formation of cAMP and inositol phosphates. Finally, glucagon produced a large increase in the biliary entry of horseradish peroxidase, even though this effect was transient and was not coupled to the increase in bile flow. These results indicate that glucagon choleresis in the guinea pig is not secondary to prostaglandin release, is canalicular in origin, involves bicarbonate secretion, is mediated by cAMP, and requires an intact microtubular system.
