Hepatic cells are involved in the metabolization and elimination of a
variety of endogenous and exogenous substances. They mediate the uptake,
processing and subsequent secretion of biliary compounds, such as
various drugs or hormones, and the passage of metabolites to be released
into different blood compartments. To perform vectorial passages
hepatocytes show a strong polarity with sites for endocytotic processes
or specific carrier molecules, and a specified system of organelles for
intracellular transport and sorting, metabolization and secretion of
compounds. Several aspects, e.g. regulation, control and mechanisms of
hepatic traffic are reported in detail - complemented by methodological
approaches to analyse and monitor these processes.