Simultaneous microanalysis of bile acids and cholesterol in bile by glass capillary column gas chromatography.

Simultaneous quantitative microanalysis of bile acids and cholesterol was carried out by enzymatic hydrolysis, the formation of the ethyl ester dimethylethylsilyl ether derivatives and subsequent analysis by glass capillary gas chromatography. A complete separation and satisfactory recovery of cholesterol and the five major bile acids commonly occurring in human and hamster bile were obtained. The method is applicable to individual small animal models such as hamster from which only a small amount of bile is available.