Bile acid conjugates present in tissues during extrahepatic cholestasis

Abstract

Bile acid concentrations in the muscle, subcutaneous fat and skin of patients with extrahepatic cholestasis were compared to those in serum. High concentrations were found in most tissue samples. In tissues from patients administered [24-¹⁴C]chenodeoxycholic acid, the specific activity was lower than that in serum, indicating a storage of bile acids in these tissues. In some patients, higher concentrations of bile acids were found in tissue samples than in serum. This was mainly due to increased concentrations of cholic acid. Monohydroxy bile acids were not found in increased concentrations. Bile acids covalently bound to tissues were not detected.

Key Words:

• gas liquid chromatography
• ion-exchange chromatography
• muscle
• reverse-phase chromatography
• subcutaneous fat
• skin