Synthesis of primary bile acids by rat liver epithelial cell-lines.

Several lipid metabolites were identified in liver epithelial cell-lines established from different strains of rats, using high performances liquid chromatographic techniques. [14C]-acetate was shown to be incorporated by these cultured cells into cholesterol, 7 alpha-hydroxycholesterol and the primary bile acids. Labeled cholesterol was localized in the cells whereas cholic and chenodeoxycholic acids were found in the culture medium as conjugates of taurine and glycine. These conjugated primary bile acids were also detected in the extracts of culture medium, after separating them using reverse phase thin layer chromatography. Therefore, the cultured rat liver cells retain the liver-specific property of synthesizing bile acids, even after they become cell-lines.