Tauro beta-muricholate is as effective as tauroursodeoxycholate in preventing taurochenodeoxycholate-induced liver damage in the rat.

Cholestasis and enhanced biliary leakage of proteins such as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and albumin are known to be induced by infusions of relatively toxic bile salts such as taurocholate (TC) and taurochenodeoxycholate (TCDC). Tauroursodeoxycholate (TUDC) was previously shown to prevent these bile abnormalities when simultaneously infused (1-5). In the present study, we examined whether tauro beta-muricholate (T beta-MC) has a similar effect. The enhanced biliary excretion of LDH and albumin induced by the infusion of TCDC at a rate of 0.4 mumol/min/100 g was markedly prevented by the simultaneous infusion of T beta-MC or TUDC at a rate one-fourth that of TCDC. Increased LDH level in plasma and hemolysis caused by the infusion of TCDC were also reduced by either T beta-MC or TUDC. These results indicate that T beta-MC has a preventive effect on TCDC-induced hepatobiliary changes, which is as efficient as that of TUDC as shown previously, suggesting that the 7 beta-hydroxy group is important for this hepatoprotective effect. Furthermore, our results suggest that beta-muricholic acid may also have clinical value since current reports demonstrate a beneficial effect of ursodeoxycholic acid on a variety of cholestatic conditions, including primary biliary cirrhosis.