Characterization of hepatobiliary organic anion transporter regulation in the Zucker rat

Aims: The Zucker rat represents an established animal model for insulin resistance, diabetes and fatty liver disease, the basis for inflammatory hepatitis and induction of liver cirrhosis. Alterations in the expression of hepatobiliary transporters may modulate the course of the disease and impair drug metabolism and biliary excretion. Methods: We studied expression and function of several hepatic transport proteins in 8 weeks old Zucker rats compared to their heterozygous littermates. Bile flow and bile-salt independent bile flow were measured and efflux of GS-DNP, GSH, bile acids and cholic acid were determine…