Investigation of Enterohepatic Bile Acid Circulation with [¹⁵N]Taurocholate

Abstract

[¹⁵N]Taurocholate has been prepared and used as a simple urine test substrate as a substitute for ¹⁴C- and ¹³C breath test substrates. [¹⁵N]Taurocholate was administered instead of [¹⁵N] glycocholate assuming that taurine is mainly used in the cholate cycle. Differences were found between healthy and diseased subjects, although deconjugated [¹⁵N]taurine was recovered in urine much less than expected. To get additional information on the actual excess of free taurine, [¹⁵N]taurine was administered orally in parallel investigations. Apparently, large fluctuations in the whole body taurine metabolism are responsible for the unexpected results.

Key Words:

• Bile acid circulation
• nitrogen 15
• organ function tests
• taurine
• taurocholate
• tracer techniques