A comparative in vivo study of intestinal absorption of biliary phosphatidylcholines and micellar phosphatidylcholines in the rat.

An in vivo study was performed using rats with the purpose of comparing the absorption of native biliary and purified phosphatidylcholines. The latter were purified from bile and solubilized in the form of mixed micelles of bile salts-phosphatidylcholines-cholesterol. The animals all bore bile duct diversions, and were divided into two groups: one had a normal pancreatic secretion while in the other group the pancreatic duct was ligated. Animals with normal pancreatic secretion showed comparable rates of absorption of micellar and biliary phosphatidylcholines. In the absence of normal pancreatic secretion, the rate of absorption of biliary phosphatidylcholines was unchanged, whereas that of micellar phosphatidylcholines markedly decreased. The results are consistent with the concept that some biliary phosphatidylcholines are absorbed independently of pancreatic secretion in an unhydrolyzed form.