Concentrations of Glycine- and Taurine-Conjugated Bile Acids in Portal and Systemic Venous Serum in Man

Abstract

Concentrations of glycine and taurine conjugates of cholic, chenodeoxycholic, and deoxycholic acid in portal and systemic venous serum and in bile were measured in eight subjects undergoing elective cholecystectomy. Mean concentrations in systemic serum ranged from 0.07 to 0.17 μmol/l, in portal serum from 0.49 to 2.09 μmol/l, and in bile from 2.72 to 17.2mmol/l. The percentage content of trihydroxy-bile acid conjugates in bile (49%) and in portal serum (51%) was higher than in systemic serum (35%) (P < 0.001). The estimated hepatic fractional uptake of glycocholic acid (mean, 83%) and of taurocholic acid (83%) was higher than the uptakes of the dihydroxy-bile acid conjugates (60–68%). The percentage contents of glycine-con-jugated bile acids in systemic serum (mean, 66%), portal serum (62%), and bile (65%) were not significantly different.

Key words:

• Bile
• conjugated bile acids
• hepatic uptake
• portal serum
• systemic serum