Comparison of Bile Acids in Intestinal Contents of Germfree and Conventional Rats.

Abstract

Two days after administration of cholic acid-24-C14 to germfree and conventional rats the intestinal contents were separated by centrifugation at 25,000 X g. (1) The labeled bile acids throughout the intestinal tract of germfree rats were recovered in the supernatant. (2) In conventional rats almost all labeled bile acids in the small intestine were recovered in the supernatant whereas 27-44% of the labeled bile acids in cecum were found in the sediment. (3) The labeled bile acids in the sediment after centrifugation of cecal content had a higher per cent of deoxycholic and 3-hydroxy-12-keto-cholanic acid than those present in the supernatant.