Biological properties of the 2-fluoro-beta-alanine conjugates of cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid in the isolated perfused rat liver.

The isolated perfused rat liver was used to examine the hepatic extraction, biliary secretion and effect on bile flow of the 2-fluoro-beta-alanine conjugates of cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid. The naturally occurring taurine and glycine conjugates of these bile acids were used for comparisons. The 2-fluoro-beta-alanine conjugates were extracted by the liver to a similar extent as the taurine and glycine conjugates. The biliary secretion rate and increase in bile flow were similar for all the cholic acid conjugates. On the other hand, the maximal biliary secretion rate of the 2-fluoro-beta-alanine conjugate of chenodeoxycholate was similar to that of the glycochenodeoxycholate, but 47% lower than that of taurochenodeoxycholate. In addition, the 2-fluoro-beta-alanine conjugate of chenodeoxycholate produced a decrease in bile flow that was comparable to that observed with the glycochenodeoxycholate (54% vs. 74%), but which was greater than that produced by the taurochenodeoxycholate (12%). In summary, these data demonstrate that the biological properties of the 2-fluoro-beta-alanine conjugates of cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid are not markedly different from those of the naturally occurring taurine and glycine conjugates. These data also suggest that the amino acid moiety can influence the biliary secretion and cholestatic properties of chenodeoxycholic acid conjugates.