J. Sjövall

Bile acids in man under normal and pathological conditions bile acids and steroids 73

Abstract Quantitative paper chromatography has been used for the analysis of bile acids in duodenal contents and gall-bladder bile from healthy subjects and from patients suffering from various diseases. The following results have been obtained: 1. 1. With the possible exception of a few percent, all bile acids occurred conjugated with glycine and taurine. 2. 2. The mean ratio of glycine- to taurine-conjugated bile acids was 3.2 in 21 healthy subjects. A decrease of the ratio was found in several cases of liver disease. A very high ratio was found in two patients with myxedema. 3. 3. The ratios between cholic, chenodeoxycholic, and deoxycholic acids were I.I:I:0.6 in the healthy subjects. Most patients with long-standing obstructive jaundice, acute hepatitis and portal cirrhosis had little or no deoxycholic acid, which probably indicates impaired enterohepatic circulation of the bile acids. In most patients with portal cirrhosis, the proportion of cholic acid was also decreased.

Dietary Glycine and Taurine on Bile Acid Conjugation in Man.∗† Bile Acids and Steroids 75:

Summary Taurine and glycine were given to human subjects and the bile acids studied. Taurine (0.5 g × 3 daily) markedly increased the proportion of taurine conjugated bile acids, whereas glycine (7 g × 3 daily) did not change the bile acid pattern of the normal subject. The findings have been discussed in relation to conjugation of bile acids under normal and pathological conditions.SummaryTaurine and glycine were given to human subjects and the bile acids studied. Taurine (0.5 g × 3 daily) markedly increased the proportion of taurine conjugated bile acids, whereas glycine (7 g × 3 daily) did not change the bile acid pattern of the normal subject. The findings have been discussed in relation to conjugation of bile acids under normal and pathological conditions.

On the bile acids in duodenal contents of infants and children. Bile acids and steroids 72.

Abstract The bile acids in duodenal contents of infants during the first week after birth and at the age of one year have been determined with the aid of quantitative paper chromatography. The following results were obtained : 1. 1. Except for traces in a few samples, no free bile acids could be detected. The mean total concentration of bile acids was about 10 mequiv./1. 2. 2. During the first week, the mean value for the proportions between cholic and chenodeoxycholic acids was 2.5. No deoxycholic acid was found, either during this period or in the children 7–12 months old. 3. 3. During the first days after birth, the main part of the bile acids was conjugated with taurine but the proportion of glycine conjugates rapidly increased and, at the age of 7–12 months, approached the proportion found in the adult.

Glucuronides of unconjugated 6-hydroxylated bile acids in urine of a patient with malabsorption

The excretion of bile acids in urine from a patient with chronic malabsorption was investigated. Bile acids were separated according to mode of conjugation using a lipophilic anion exchanger, diethylaminohydroxypropyl Sephadex LH-20. Following hydrolysis, individual bile acids were analyzed by computerized GC/MS. In addition, bile acid glucuronides were isolated and their methyl ester trimethylsilyl ether derivatives were directly analyzed by GC/MS. The patient had a normal or slightly increased excretion of bile acids in urine. Bile acids carrying a hydroxyl group at C-6 constituted about 40% of the total. Tetrahydroxylated bile acids were present which have not been found in healthy subjects. Glucuronides of otherwise unconjugated bile acids accounted for 20% of the total. About 90% of these conjugates were 6-hydroxylated, hyodeoxycholic acid being the major bile acid. It is suggested that a specific abnormality of bile acid metabolism is related to the disease in this patient.

The determination of bile acids in bile and duodenal contents by quantitative paper chromatography bile acids and steroids 71

Abstract A method is described for the determination of bile acids in biological material by quantitative paper chromatography. It has been applied to the analysis of rat, rabbit and human bile and of human duodenal contents.

Influence of E. coli infection on turnover and metabolism of cholic acid in germ-free rats.

Abstract The fecal excretion of cholic acid and its metabolites has been determined in normal and germ-free rats and in rats monoinfected with Escherichia coli . The mean daily excretion was 5.1, 1.9, and 2.2 mg. in the respective groups. The mean values for the amount of cholic acid and its metabolites in the intestinal tract were 14.6, 18.4, and 20.8 mg., respectively. 7-Ketodeoxycholic acid and 3α,7β,12α-trihydroxycholanic acid are formed from cholic acid in E. coli monoinfected rats. 7-Ketodeoxycholic acid is formed by microbial enzymes and is then slowly reduced by liver enzymes to cholic acid and 3α,7β,12α-trihydroxycholanic acid.