Deficiency of Hepatic Organic Anion-Binding Protein, Impaired Organic Anion Uptake by Liver and Physiologic Jaundice in Newborn Monkeys

Abstract

The possibility that "physiologic" jaundice in monkeys results from immaturity of the hepatic organic anion-uptake process was investigated by serial measurement of the initial plasma clearance of intravenously administered bromsulfalein (BSP), the serum bilirubin concentration and the hepatic intracellular concentration of Y and Z, two cytoplasmic organic anion-binding proteins. The intracellular concentration of Y, plasma clearance of BSP and serum bilirubin concentrations were abnormal in newborn monkeys and reached mature values within the first 10 days of life. These findings suggest that relative deficiency of Y, the main acceptor protein, may be important in the etiology of "physiologic jaundice" in monkeys as well as other primates, including man.