Comparison of natural biliary system with our in vitro set-up
| Parameters | Natural biliary system | In vitro set-up |
| Source of bile | Produced by the liver | 10% w/v ox bile |
| Source of dietary fibre | From the diet of the individual (varies from person to person) | 2.5 g/450 mL, consistent from experiment to experiment. Allows systematic variation of fibre length |
| Source of bacteria | Millions of gut flora which are resistant to bodily fluids are present in the intestinal walls. | Bile-resistant progeny has been developed for 10 generations. |
| Sterility of the duct | Maintained by sphincter of Oddi | Maintenance of a sterile in vitro condition |
| Flow rate | Depends on the dietary composition of meal | Fixed continuous flow rate of 0.5 mL/min for accelerated clogging |
| Nature of flow | Meal induced biliary secretion. | Induced using peristaltic pumps |
| Temperature | Body temperature | Maintained at 37°C |