Uptake of Colchicine,a Microtubular System Disrupting Agent,by Isolated Rat Hepatocytes

The possible mechanism of hepatic uptake of colchicine (CLC), a microtubule system disrupting agent, was examined using isolated rat hepatocytes. The existence of a carrier-mediated active transport system for CLC was demonstrated. This transport system is saturable, is affected by metabolic inhibitors (dinitrophenol, KCN) and a SH-group blocker (p-hydroxymercuribenzoic acid but not N-ethylmaleimide), and is sensitive to temperature. Ouabain, an inhibitor of Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase, does not affect the transport system of CLC.