N-L monomethyl arginine (L-NMMA) enhances bile canalicular contractions in cultured rat hepatocytes.

Time lapse cinematographic analysis revealed that the frequency of canalicular contractions in primary monolayer-cultured hepatocytes (couplets or triplets) isolated from rat livers increased in the presence of monolayer-sinusoidal endothelial cells by the N-L monomethyl arginine (L-NMMA)-treatment as compared to that in a control. Transmission electron microscopy revealed an enhanced vesicular transport to the canalicular lumens at the contracted bile canaliculi in the L-NMMA-treated couplets or triplets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]