RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES. The elimination of hepatocyte-directed particulat
e contrast agents has not been studied in the same detail as particles elim
inated mainly by the mononuclear phagocyte system. The aim of the present s
tudy was to elucidate the fate of these particles by a multidisciplinary ap
proach.
METHODS. After intravenous injection of AMI-HS particles directed to the he
patocytes, rats were killed and cytological studies, by both electron micro
scopy and histochemistry, and spectroscopic studies of the bile were perfor
med. The data were compared with a dynamic magnetic resonance study of the
heart and liver.
RESULTS. The particles were rapidly cleared from the blood by Kupffer cells
and hepatocytes and then found first in the vascular and later in the bili
ary pole of the hepatocytes. After 24 hours, a relaxometric characterizatio
n of the bile showed the presence of unchanged particles in the bile.
CONCLUSIONS. These results show the capacity of the liver to excrete unchan
ged AMI-HS particles directly into the bile.