Sex-specific extraction of organic anions by the rat liver.

The capacity for hepatic elimination of some compounds is different in males and females and differential expression of a number of sinusoidal and canalicular transporters exists. However, the specific events underlying the functional differences are not understood. To determine how sex influences sinusoidal and canalicular organic anion transport, bile duct-cannulated livers from mature Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes were single-pass perfused with saline containing the model organic anions bromosulphophthalein (BSP), carboxyfluorescein (CF), carboxyfluorescein diacetate (CFDA) or 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid (DIDS).