Effects of cholic acid, 7 beta-hydroxy- and 12 beta-hydroxy-isocholic acid on bile flow, lipid secretion and bile acid synthesis in the rat.

The effects of three epimeric trihydroxy-cholanoic acids, cholic acid (C), 7 beta-hydroxy-(7 beta) and 12 beta-hydroxy-(12 beta) isocholic acids on bile flow, lipid secretion, bile synthesis and bile micellar properties were studied in the rat with a bile fistula. The bile salts were infused intraduodenally starting 72 hours after cannulation when endogeneous bile salt synthesis had plateaued after the bile salt pool was drained. The bile salts were infused at two levels approximately 2 and 4 mumol min-1 kg-1. All three bile salts were absorbed and secreted almost quantitatively into the bile. Cholic acid was secreted in the conjugated form, 7 beta conjugated to approximately 60% and 12 beta completely in the unconjugated form. The bile salts did not undergo any significant biotransformations during the one passage from the intestine through the liver. Bile flow increased from the preinfusion level for all three bile salts infused in the order 7 beta greater than 12 beta greater than C. The bile flow increased linearly with bile salt secretion more for 7 beta than for C and 12 beta. Infusion of C increased the secretion into bile of phospholipid (PL) and cholesterol (CH) over the preinfusion values. Infusion of 7 beta as well as 12 beta resulted in a parallel decrease in the secretion of PL as well as CH compared to the preinfusion values. The infusion of C and 7 beta at the two levels used decreased the secretion of newly synthesized bile salt below the control level.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)