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The levels of the two primary bile acids, cholic acid (CA) and chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), were determined by radioimmunoassay in cattle, horse, pig and dog serum. The mean serum cholic acid (SCA) and deoxycholic acid (SCDCA) levels of cows varied with their reproductive status, being 7.8 (+/- 3.3) and 1.5 (+/- 1.0) mumol/l in dry cows, 17.8 (+/- 6.9) and 2.3 (+/- 1.0) mumol/l in freshly calved dams, and 15.8 (+/- 5.7) and 2.3 (+/- 0.8) mumol/l, respectively, in lactating cows. The SCA level found in the immediate prepartal period and also on the day of calving corresponded to those found during the dry period, then, they tended to rise 2 days after calving and attained the peak characteristic for freshly calved dams on day 3 or 4 post partum. Feed consumption had no influence on the serum levels of primary bile acids, and circadian variations of SCA and SCDCA were also negligible. Suckling calves had much lower SCA levels (2.3 (+/- 1.0) mumol/l before feeding than cows. This initial concentration rose to 10.3 (+/- 2.9) mumol/l 1 h after feeding and returned to 5.0 (+/- 2.1) mumol/l 3 h later. Like cows, horses showed no appreciate difference between pre- and post-feeding levels of SCA (2.2 (+/- 1.2) mumol/l) and SCDCA (1.1 (+/- 0.3) mumol/l). Unlike bovines, pigs and dogs showed a considerable increase in the serum levels of the primary bile acids after feeding.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

In order to examine their bile acid transforming capacities, lecithinase-lipase-negative Clostridia, 40 strains, isolate from the feces of patients with large bowel cancer, were cultivated in Schaedler broth containing either cholic, chenodeoxycholic or deoxycholic acid (250 muM). Gas chromatographic analysis of bile acids as hexafluoroisopropylester-trifluoroacetates [on QF-1] showed that 14 strains (35%) attacked cholic acid and 13 strains (32%) chenodeoxycholic acid. Deoxycholic acid, however, was not attacked. About half of the strains transformed cholic and chenodeoxycholic acids as well to one or two products respectively. The metabolites were identified as 3 alpha, 12 alpha-dihydroxy-7-keto-5 beta-cholanoic acid, 3 alpha, 7 beta, 12 alpha -trihydroxy-5 beta-cholanoic acid resp. 3 alpha-hydroxy-7-keto-5 beta-cholanoic acid, and 3 alpha, 7 beta-dihydroxy-5 beta-cholanoic acid (ursodeoxycholic acid) by gas chromatography an combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The Clostridial strains tested here are the first which have proved able to epimerize the 7 alpha-hydroxyl groups of bile acids. We could, however, find no relevance to the etiology of large bowel cancer.

Unlabelled: The experiments were carried out in 125 Wistar rats. The entero-gastric reflux was estimated quantitatively with reference to the bilirubin and the cholic acid (radiolabeled by C 14). The animals were submitted to distal partial gastrectomy in groups after Billroth I operation, after Billroth II operation with and without enteroanastomosis, as well as Billroth II operation with enteroanastomosis and vagotomy., Results: The statistical difference was significant between Billroth I and Billroth II operation with clear smaller reflux in Billroth I. The added enteroanastomosis decreased or increased the reflux of some animals at a time. The additional vagotomy reduced the number of the anastomotic ulcer.

Bile salts undergo an enterohepatic circulation. The relative distribution of labelled cholic acid in portal blood, enterocytes, intestinal contents and feces, following intravenous injection of (carboxylic-14C) cholic acid, can be considered as an indication of the absorptive capacity of the epithelium cells. Seven days after a massive small intestinal resection (60-80 cm), the animal weight and the bile salt absorption were significantly decreased. Nevertheless, thirty days after the operation, weight and radioactivities reached the values found in the controls: in portal and cava blood, liver, intestinal contents and feces. An increase of the absorptive capacity of the intestinal epithelial cells was also observed.