Abstract
We determined the serum levels of different bile acids (BA) by RIA in 56 human fetuses and mothers.Serum was obtained immediately after legal abortion,performed between the 14th and 21st week of gestation.Conjugated cholic (CCA) and chenodeoxycholic acid (CCDCA)were determined in 33 cases,conjugated lithocholic acid (CLCA) in 20 and sulfolithocholylglycine (SLCG) in 15.
In fetal blood,mean concentrations of CCA (0.8±0.4 μMol/1),CCDCA (4.5±2.7 μMol/L) and CLCA (1.7±1.04 μMol/L) were significantly higher than those in the mother (CCA:0.34±0.17 μMol/L,p < 0.001; CCDCA:0.79±0.34 μMol/L,p < 0.001;CLCA:0.7±0.3 μMol/l,p< 0.001). SLCG serum levels were lower in fetuses (0.15±0.09 μMol/L)than in the mothers (0.40±0.3 μMol/L,p < 0.01).
No correlation between levels of BA and gestational age was found.
Conclusions: 1) this study supports the concept of a state of physiologic cholestasis during development 2) placental BA transfer occurs mostly from fetus to the mother 3) there is evidence of lithocholic acid synthesis in the fetal liver via the alternate pathway for BA synthesis,with predominant formation of chenodeoxycholic acid 4) Sulfation of BA is poorly developed at this age of gestation.
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Colombo, C., Roda, A. & Sereni, F. SERUM BILE ACIDS IN THE HUMAN FETUS. Pediatr Res 18 (Suppl 4), 193 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00603
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00603