THE BLOOD CLEARANCE AND RENAL EXCRETION OF BILE ACIDS FOLLOWING THE INTRAVENOUS INJECTION OF CHOLIC AND DESOXYCHOLIC ACIDS

Abstract

The relative rate of elimination of injected bile acids from the blood was studied in normal dogs, using the author''s method for the estimation of bile acids in body fluids based in principle upon the hemolytic properties of bile acids. A differential rate of blood clearance between the 2 bile acids was demonstrated. Following the injection of cholic acid the urinary excretion of bile acids was markedly augmented. In restricted doses the injection of desoxycholic acid was attended by no rise in urinary output but by a definite rise in the blood concn. of bile acids. The ratio of bile acid concn. in the blood to that in the urine when the concn. after injection was elevated above normal in either fluid gave a quotient greater than unity when desoxycholic acid had been injected and less than unity when cholic acid was used. It is suggested that the bile acids occurring naturally in the blood and urine are fundamentally different. Expts. are in progress to determine whether significant and characteristic changes in blood clearance and urinary excretion occur under exptl. and clinical conditions.