Abstract
The characterization of BA metabolism during development is essential to understand the clinical problems related to the immaturity of the entero-hepatic circulation of BA in early life. We have previously examined primary BA ccncentrations in fetal bile during early gestation: these were low prior week 16, but after this time showed a surge in the range of 10-30 fold. We report here the results of qualitative BA analysis of 32 samples of fetal bile (14th - 21st gw)by means of GLC-MS and HPLC. In all the samples, the predominant BA were chenodeoxycholic and cholic acids, while the main secondary BA were present only in small amounts. Several “atypical BA” were found, with hydroxyl groups in unusual positions in the BA steroid nucleus and they constituted around 40% of total BA in each sample; hyocholic acid and a trihydroxy-BA of unknown structure were quantitatively the most important and together these frequently exceeded the amounts of cholic acid. The presence of 3β-Hydroxy-5-cholenoic ac. and 3-oxo-7α-hydroxy-5β-cholanoic acid seems to indicate fetal synthetic pathways in which side chain oxidation preceeds nuclear changes in structure, HPLC analysis of fetal bile revealed the major proportion of BA (around 80 %) to be taurine conjugated, while a much lower proportion was in the glycine conjugated fraction; less than 5 % of biliary BA were found to be sulphated.
These unique characteristics of BA metabolism may in part explain the cholestatic tendency during development; these data may also be of help to elucidate the etiology of certain forms of neonatal cholestasis due to abnormalities in BA metabolism.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Colombo, C., Ronchi, M. & Setchell, K. 13. BILE ACID (BA) PATTERN AM) CONJUGATION IN THE HUMAN FETUS. Pediatr Res 22, 98 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198707000-00034
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198707000-00034