The Biochemical Assay of Bile Acids

For the quantitative estimation of bile acids in body fluids and tissues, consideration must be given as to whether (1) an extraction step is necessary to partially purify the bile acids prior to further analysis (2) hydrolysis is required to remove glycine and taurine or other conjugate moieties and (3) the method of analysis will be of the required sensitivity and provide infer- 

Concentration Ranges of Total Bile Acids Present in Normal Human Body Fluids 

Specimen Major bile acids present Concentration range Comments References 

Gallbladder bile Glycine and taurine conjugates ofC, CDC. DC 150-350 mmol/liter Concentration dependent on gallbladder function C7 

Hepatic bile As for gallbladder bile 4—60 mmol/liter Collected firom common bile duct C7 

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