Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic separation and quantification of individual human bile acids

Bile acid patterns in commercially available oxgall powders used for the evaluation of the bile tolerance ability of potential probiotics

This study aimed to analyze the bile acid patterns in commercially available oxgall powders used for evaluation of the bile tolerance ability of probiotic bacteria. Qxgall powders purchased from Sigma-Aldrich, Oxoid and BD Difco were dissolved in distilled water, and analyzed. Conjugated bile acids were profiled by ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), free bile acids were detected as their p-bromophenacyl ester derivatives using reversed-phase HPLC after extraction with acetic ether, and total bile acids were analyzed by enzymatic-colorimetric assay. The results showed that 9 individual bile acids (i.e., taurocholic acid, glycocholic acid, taurodeoxycholic acid, glycodeoxycholic acid, taurochenodeoxycholic acid, glycochenodeoxycholic acid, cholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid, deoxycholic acid) were present in each of the oxgall powders tested. The content of total bile acid among the three oxgall powders was similar; however, the relative contents of the individual bile acids among these oxgall powders were significantly different (P < 0.001). The oxgall powder from Sigma-Aldrich was closer to human bile in the ratios of glycine-conjugated bile acids to taurine-conjugated bile acids, dihydroxy bile acids to trihydroxy bile acids, and free bile acids to conjugated bile acids than the other powders were. It was concluded that the oxgall powder from Sigma-Aldrich should be used instead of those from Oxoid and BD Difco to evaluate the bile tolerance ability of probiotic bacteria as human bile model.

Isolation and determination of bile acids

In this article, the methods of isolation and determination of bile acids are reviewed. Methods for separation of bile acids from cattle and pig bile are given in detail. Isolation of a mixture of cholic acid and deoxycholic acids from cattle bile and their subsequent purification are described. The isolation and purification of hyodeoxycholic acid and other components of pig bile are also included. Methods for the determination of bile acids in various biological samples are reviewed, including enzyme assays, radioimmunoassay, enzyme immunoassay and chromatographic methods. Among chromatographic methods, separation and determination of bile acids by thin-layer chromatography, gas chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography are reviewed. Particular attention is given to the use of high performance liquid chromatography since this has recently been the most commonly applied method for the separation and determination of bile acids.

The role of alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase in bile acid synthesis

According to current views, the second peroxisomal beta-oxidation pathway is responsible for the degradation of the side chain of bile acid intermediates. Peroxisomal multifunctional enzyme type 2 [peroxisomal multifunctional 2-enoyl-CoA hydratase/(R)-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase; MFE-2] catalyses the second (hydration) and third (dehydrogenation) reactions of the pathway. Deficiency of MFE-2 leads to accumulation of very-long-chain fatty acids, 2-methyl-branched fatty acids and C(27) bile acid intermediates in plasma, but bile acid synthesis is not blocked completely. In this study we describe an alternative pathway, which allows MFE-2 deficiency to be overcome. The alternative pathway consists of alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase and peroxisomal multifunctional enzyme type 1 [peroxisomal multifunctional 2-enoyl-CoA hydratase/(S)-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase; MFE-1]. (24E)-3alpha,7alpha,12alpha-Trihydroxy-5beta-cholest-24-enoyl-CoA, the presumed physiological isomer, is hydrated by MFE-1 with the formation of (24S,25S)-3alpha,7alpha,12alpha,24-tetrahydroxy-5beta-cholestanoyl-CoA [(24S,25S)-24-OH-THCA-CoA], which after conversion by a alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase into the (24S,25R) isomer can again be dehydrogenated by MFE-1 to 24-keto-3alpha,7alpha,12alpha-trihydroxycholestanoyl-CoA, a physiological intermediate in cholic acid synthesis. The discovery of the alternative pathway of cholesterol side-chain oxidation will improve diagnosis of peroxisomal deficiencies by identification of serum 24-OH-THCA-CoA diastereomer profiles.

Simultaneous determination of bile acids in rat liver tissue by high-performance liquid chromatography

A method for the simultaneous determination of bile acids in rat liver tissue by high-performance liquid chromatography was developed. Without prior fractionation and alkaline hydrolysis, 30 unconjugated, glycine- and taurine-conjugated bile acids were detected by post-column enzymatic reaction and fluorescence detection. They were separated on a reversed-phase column using a linear gradient solvent system of 10 mM tribasic ammonium phosphate-acetonitrile-methanol (44:12:5, v/v/v) and 20 mM dibasic ammonium phosphate-acetonitrile-methanol (2:1:2, v/v/v). The limits of detection were 1-5 pmol, and calibration curves were linear for concentrations ranging between 10 and 4000 pmol per 10 microl injection. This rapid and reliable method is effective for measuring bile acid levels in liver tissue not only of rats but also of patients with hepatobiliary and other diseases.

Separation techniques for bile salts analysis

The analysis of bile salts in biological samples has remained a difficult task, due to the complex nature of the salts and also to their low concentration in common sample fluids such as plasma and urine. Given their importance, the development of accurate and sensitive methods of instrumental analysis has been the subject of intensive research, and recent advances have eliminated or lessened some of the difficulties. Currently available techniques are the following: thin-layer chromatography, gas chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, supercritical fluid chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and capillary electrophoresis. Liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (thermospray, fast atom bombardment, electrospray and ionspray), a method undergoing continuous improvement, is also being applied to bile salts analysis. In this paper, these various techniques, which differ greatly in specificity, accuracy and simplicity, are reviewed and discussed, in terms of analytical performance, applicability to a given sample fluid, major limitations, ability to identify uncommon bile salts, including unsaturated oxo derivatives, glucuronides, sulfates, glycosides and bile alcohols.

Ultraviolet and fluorescence derivatization reagents for carboxylic acids suitable for high performance liquid chromatography: a review

Pre- and postcolumn derivatization with a suitable chromophore or fluorophore have often been utilized to enhance the sensitivity and selectivity of detection for analytes possessing a carboxyl group. The major classes of UV and fluorescent derivatization reagents include the coumarin analogues, alkyl halides, diazoalkanes, and amines. The derivatization reaction conditions, HPLC systems for separation of the conjugates and detection limits of various analytes are presented in this review. High mass sensitivity for various carboxylic acids have been achieved with the hydrazides, anthracenes, and diazoalkanes.

High-performance liquid chromatographic-electrospray mass spectrometric analysis of bile acids in biological fluids

The present work describes the development of HPLC-mass spectrometric systems equipped with an electrospray interface for the quantitative analysis of bile acids. Good separation of free as well as glycine- and taurine-conjugated bile acids was achieved with a C18 reversed-phase column (3 microns particle size, 70 x 4.6 mm I.D.) employing methanol-15 mM ammonium acetate as the mobile phase for both isocratic and gradient mode, at a flow-rate of 0.3 ml/min. This system permits post-column splitting of the eluate for analysis by two different detectors: (1) electrospray-mass spectrometer with a flow-rate of 18 microliters/min; and (2) a complementary evaporative light scattering mass detector. When bile salts were ionized in the electrospray interface operating in the negative-ion mode, only [M-H]- molecular ions were generated; the detection limit was 15 pg injected for all bile acids studied. In the second system, a semi-micro pre-column splitting apparatus (Acurate, LC Packings) was utilized: with this device the flow-rate from the HPLC pump was reduced to 1.4 microliters/min and bile acids were separated with a micro-bore C18 column (3 microns particle size, 150 x 0.30 I.D.), using the same mobile phase as above. With this latter system, a head-column enrichment technique can be used: the amount injected can be increased from 60 to 200 nl, permitting an improvement in the detection limit to 5 pg injected. Application of the HPLC-electrospray-mass spectrometric method to bile and serum bile acid analysis is described; preliminary data on the ability of the first system to determine the 13C/12C isotope ratio in 13C-labeled bile acid enriched serum is also critically discussed.

Protective role of biliary cholesterol and phospholipid lamellae against bile acid-induced cell damage

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Bile salts (BS) are cytotoxic agents, but cell damage is not observed in the hepatobiliary system. We hypothesized that biliary lipid vesicles (unilamellae and multilamellae) could have a protective role against BS-induced cytotoxicity.

METHODS

Biliary lipid lamellar secretion was induced by feeding rats with 0.5% diosgenin. Cytoprotection was assessed in bile duct-obstructed rats and by incubating human erythrocytes with sodium taurocholate.

RESULTS

Biliary cholesterol concentration increased > 300% in diosgenin-fed rats; electron microscopic examination showed a great abundance of lipid lamellar vesicles in bile and within the canaliculi. After bile duct obstruction, serum hepatic enzyme activities were significantly lower in diosgenin-fed rats. Histologically severe and confluent hepatocellular necrosis was only observed in control rats. Biliary lamellar lipid material significantly reduced the BS-induced hemolytic effect in vitro in a concentration-dependent manner. This protective effect correlated to a progressive decrease in the intermicellar BS concentration. Phosphatidylcholine or cholesterol, alone or as lamellar structures, also showed cytoprotective effect in vitro but always less than native biliary lamellae.

CONCLUSIONS

These results support the concept that native biliary cholesterol phospholipid lamellae represent an important cytoprotective factor for hepatocytes and biliary epithelial cells against BS-induced damage.

Serum bile acid concentrations in mild liver cirrhosis

Fasting serum conjugated bile salt concentrations were measured in a group of 20 patients with moderate post-hepatitis cirrhosis. Twenty healthy volunteers were used as controls. The individual conjugated bile acids were analyzed by a specific and sensitive method which couples reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry. Significantly elevated levels of the total and individual conjugated bile acids were found in cirrhotic patients. The predominant serum bile acids were conjugates of chenodeoxycholic acid. The conjugates of lithocholic acid were also increased; in subjects with normal liver function, on the contrary, they were found only in traces.

Simultaneous determination of bile acids in rat bile and serum by high-performance liquid chromatography

A method for the simultaneous determination of bile acids in rat bile and serum by high-performance liquid chromatography with a post-column enzymic reaction and fluorescence detection has been developed. Without prior fractionation and alkaline hydrolysis, 26 unconjugated, glycine- and taurine-conjugated bile acids were determined. They were separated on a reversed-phase column using a linear gradient solvent system of 200 mM dibasic ammonium phosphate buffer (pH 7.9)-acetonitrile-methanol (73:19:8, v/v/v) and 20 mM dibasic ammonium phosphate buffer (pH 7.9)-acetonitrile-methanol (2:1:2, v/v/v). The limits of detection were 1-5 pmol, and calibration curves were linear for concentrations between 10 and 4000 pmol. This rapid and reliable method is effective for measuring bile acid levels in the bile and serum not only of rats but also of patients with hepatobiliary and other diseases.

Adaptive changes of hepatic bile salt transport in a model of reversible interruption of the enterohepatic circulation in the rat

The reversibility and time course of the adaptive changes in hepatic bile salt transport related to modifications of the bile salt enterohepatic circulation and bile salt pool size have not been previously studied. For this reason a model of reversible interruption of entero-hepatic circulation was characterized in unrestrained rats, which allowed the study of changes in hepatic bile salt transport following bile salt pool depletion and subsequent restoration by either the de novo synthesis of bile acids or i.v. administration of exogenous taurocholate. Rats subjected to biliary drainage for 24 h through a transduodenal common bile duct cannula, followed by removal of the cannula and restoration of the enterohepatic circulation were studied at 24, 48 and 72 h. Neither light and electron microscopy examination nor plasma biochemical parameters showed evidence of necrosis, fibrosis, cholestasis or inflammatory changes. Maximum taurocholate secretory rate decreased to 50% following 24-h bile salt depletion. After restoration of the enterohepatic circulation maximum taurocholate secretory rate progressively increased to normal values at 72 h, following the normalization of the bile salt pool size, which had a similar composition compared with controls. The same effect was obtained when the native bile salt pool was substituted with exogenous taurocholate. Thus, adaptive down-regulation of hepatic bile salt transport capacity is a reversible process, related to restoration of entero-hepatic circulation and normalization of bile salt pool size.

Chromatographic methods for the determination of toxicants in faeces

Modern chromatographic techniques and their application in the determination of toxic compounds in faeces are reviewed. Faecal analysis may be of importance in toxicokinetic studies of xenobiotics in order to determine factors such as metabolism, body burden and major routes of elimination. Compounds of interest include various food constituents, drugs and occupational or environmental factors. Further, various mutagenic or carcinogenic compounds which are excreted by faeces have been indicated to represent risk factors for colorectal cancer. In this context, the chromatographic determination of the endogenously generated fecapentaenes and bile acids, both postulated etiological factors in colorectal carcinogenesis, is reviewed. For fecapentaene determination, several high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) methods are available; however, the applicability of some of these methods is limited owing to insufficient separation of various isomeric forms or discrimination between fecapentaenes and their precursors. For the determination of bile acids in faeces, many chromatographic procedures have been reported, and the characteristics of the most relevant methods are compared and discussed. It is concluded that separation by gas chromatography (GC) in combination with mass spectrometry provides the highest selectivity and sensitivity. A relatively rapid alternative analysis for the determination of total and aqueous faecal bile acids is proposed. Further, methods for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are reviewed. Although the use of radiolabelled PAHs in animal studies has many advantages, it cannot be applied for human biological monitoring and HPLC and GC provide sensitive alternatives. An HPLC method for the determination of non-metabolized PAHs in faeces is described.

Ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography of bile salt conjugates: application to pig bile

The high-performance liquid chromatographic separation and quantitation of conjugated bile salts from pig bile is reported. Synthetic standards and bile samples were chromatographed on a C18 reversed phase column using acetonitrile/water/tetrabutyl ammonium phosphate as an isocratic mobile phase at a flow rate of 1 mL/min. Detection of the ion-pairs was at 214 nm. The method permits efficient separation of all conjugated pig biliary bile salts without prior modification or treatment of the samples. Analysis of 12 pig biles showed that 85% of the bile salts are conjugated to glycine. The three main conjugated bile salts were glyco-3 alpha,6 alpha,7 alpha-trihydroxy-5 beta-cholanoic acid (GHC), glyco-3 alpha,7 alpha-dihydroxy-5 beta-cholanoic acid (GCDC), and glyco-3 alpha,6 alpha-dihydroxy-5 beta-cholanoic acid (GHDC). Glyco-3 alpha-hydroxy-6-oxo-5 beta-cholanoic acid (G3 alpha 6oxo), tauro-3 alpha,7 alpha-dihydroxy-5 beta-cholanoic acid (TCDC), tauro-3 alpha,6 alpha,7 alpha-trihydroxy-5 beta-cholanoic acid (THC), and tauro-3 alpha,6 alpha-dihydroxy-5 beta-cholanoic acid (THDC) were found to contribute each for 4 to 5% to the total. An excellent correlation was found between the sum of conjugated bile salts quantitated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and values obtained by conventional enzymatic assay. Simplicity, efficiency and relative rapidity of the method render it suitable for routine analyses.

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of cortolic and cortolonic acids as pyrenyl ester derivatives

A new procedure is described for the detection of the acidic metabolites of cortisol (cortoic acids) as the pyrenylmethyl-21-oic esters. The derivatizing reagent, diazomethylpyrene, was prepared by an improved procedure. The reagent was used at room temperature, required no catalyst, and was not restricted by stoichiometric requirements. The steroid esters were separated by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and analyzed simultaneously by their ultraviolet absorbance and fluorescence characteristics. Identities of the products were confirmed using the photodiode array detector to determine spectral profiles, absorbance maxima, and absorbance ratios. Further confirmation of identity of the cortoic acid esters used mass spectrometry under normal and collision-activated dissociation conditions. With the method described, a linear spectral response was obtained between 8 and 1680 fmol. Application of the technique to the analysis of steroid acids in human urine indicated the presence of cortoic acids.

Pre-column derivatization of free bile acids for high-performance liquid chromatographic and gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis

Pentachlorophenyl (PCP) esters of five free bile acids (FBA) were obtained by reacting the FBA and Kovacs' complex (KC) in a 1:8 molar ratio in acetone at 65 degrees C, and were purified by column chromatography on silica gel. The esters were crystallized from benzene-hexane, derivatized as trimethylsilyl ethers for gas chromatography on a DB-1 capillary column and for gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with a DB-5 column, and mass spectrometry (MS) in the electron-impact (EI) positive-ion mode at 70 eV. The reaction is specific for FBA even in the presence of glycine and taurine conjugates of bile acids. The PCP esters were treated with benzylamine in chloroform or methanol to produce N-benzyl derivatives of FBA. The N-benzylamides were separated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on a 4-microns Nova-Pak C18 column, studied by thermospray-LC-MS, and in the direct insertion probe-EI positive-ion mode.

Serum and biliary lipid pattern in rabbits feeding a diet enriched with unsaturated fatty acids

Adult male New Zealand white rabbits were fed for 3 months a stock diet supplemented with 6% (w/w) soybean oil heated at 240 degrees C for 60 min. After the first month of treatment a significant increase in total lipid content of serum was observed mainly due to the cholesterol ester fraction. Simultaneously, grossly induced atherosclerosis and marked liver damage were histologically and clinically demonstrated. Lipid peroxide values, performed by thiobarbituric acid test in lipid extracts from liver, aorta and bile showed a significant increase as compared to controls. Lipoperoxidation rate increased with the duration of feeding. Parallel to this there was a marked reduction in the activities of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase in liver and aorta, all enzymes involved in the mechanism of detoxification of lipid peroxides. The results are in agreement with the hypothesis that lipid peroxidation can play a significant role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

Determination of bile acids and their conjugates in serum by HPLC using immobilized 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase for detection

A method is described for the separation of unconjugated bile acids and their glycine and taurine conjugates in a single step with adequate sensitivity for analysis of serum samples. Separation was carried out over a period of 80 min using a linear gradient with increasing concentrations of methanol in aqueous ammonium dihydrogen phosphate buffer, on an ODS Spherisorb column. Spectrofluorometric detection of NADH, formed as the column eluate passed through a column of immobilized 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, enabled amounts less than 40 pmol to be quantified. The reaction was carried out at neutral pH so that the lifetime of the enzyme column was increased, compared to other methods where a pH nearer 9.0 is commonly used. Flow rates were optimized to give comparable peak area for both primary and secondary bile acids.

Effect of soy fiber and soy protein on cholesterol metabolism and atherosclerosis in rabbits

The effect of dietary fiber isolated from dehulled, defatted soybean seeds on cholesterol (CHOL) metabolism and atherosclerosis in rabbits was studied alone and in combination with isolated soy protein (ISP). Soy fiber (SF) contains both cellulosic and non-cellulosic dietary fiber. Based on the official AOAC method, soy fibers contains 75% total dietary fiber. Rabbits at 6 months of age were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 dietary treatments. All rabbits received either a casein or ISP-based diet with cellulose or SF as the only dietary fiber source for 36 weeks. Fasting blood samples and feces were collected and analyzed for lipids from individual rabbits. The entire aorta was removed and fixed, and sudanophilic stained lesions were examined visually. Rabbits consuming the SF and/or ISP diets had lower plasma CHOL levels and lower incidence of atherosclerotic lesions relative to the rabbits fed the casein-based cellulose diets. Rabbits consuming the SF and/or ISP diets also had a lower CHOL content in their liver and heart. Rabbits fed ISP-based diets had consistently increased fecal bile acid excretion, whereas rabbits fed diets containing SF had increased fecal and cholesterol concentration. These results suggest a complementary role for SF and ISP in preventing atherosclerosis in rabbits.

Prediction of lithogenic character of human bile by a quaternary system

The lithogenic character of human gallbladder bile was investigated by a mathematical model on the basis of a clinical data set. Each bile was described by means of the quaternary system bile salts--phospholipids--free fatty acids--cholesterol. Reporting a set of bile samples on the tetrahedron of concentrations, a clear separation emerged between the control bile, the bile from patients with gallstones, and the bile of subjects with gallbladder dyskinesia. This group was characterized by a largely increased content of free fatty acids.

Naturally occurring conjugated bile acids, measured by high-performance liquid chromatography, in human, dog, and rabbit bile

The aim of this study was to determine the biliary pattern of conjugated bile acids after stimulation of their enterohepatic circulation. Conjugated bile acids were separated by reversed-phase ion-pair chromatography without prior derivatization. A MicroPak SP-C18-IP-4 column was used as non-polar matrix, and an ionic alkyl compound, tetrabutylammonium phosphate, was added to the mobile phase, which was a mixture of acetonitrile and water. Quantification was made by UV absorption at 210 nm with external standardization. In fourteen human patients with external biliary drainage after papillotomy there was preferential glycine conjugation. The mean values were 36.5% for glycocholic acid, 33% for glycochenodeoxycholic acid, and 10.0% for glycodeoxycholic acid. Only 15.2% of the biliary bile acids were taurine metabolites. Conjugates of ursodeoxycholic acid were below 2.1%. In most cases, conjugated lithocholic acid was not detected. Within 4 h after ingestion of a standardized meal there were no significant changes in the biliary bile acid pattern. In four dogs (beagles), glycine-conjugated bile acids were lacking. The mean values were 74.3% for taurocholic acid, 14.9% for taurodeoxycholic acid, and 5.3% for taurochenodeoxycholic acid. In six rabbits, 87.4% of biliary bile acids was identified as glycodeoxycholic acid and 5.3% as glycocholic acid. In conscious dogs, as well as in rabbits, the stimulation of biliary secretion by cholecystokinin and/or secretin had no effect on the biliary bile acid spectrum. Evidently, there is a difference in the biliary composition of conjugated bile acids between humans, dogs, and rabbits. Because of the different physicochemical behaviour of glycine- and taurine-conjugated bile salts, it seems difficult to compare the therapeutic effect of gallstone dissolution in various species.

High performance liquid chromatographic separation of stereoisomeric bile acids as their UV-sensitive esters

High performance liquid chromatographic separation of a series of mono-, di- and trihydroxylated 5 beta-cholanic acids, which differ only in position and configuration of hydroxyl groups at positions C-3, C-7 and/or C-12, is reported. The C-24 free acids were derivatized to four different classes of UV-sensitive esters, i.e., p-bromophenacyl (BP), m-methoxyphenacyl (MP), 4-nitrophthalimidemethyl (NPM) and 9-anthrylmethyl (AM) esters, and chromatographed on two variants of C18 reversed-phase columns (Nova-Pak C18 and Zorbax ODS) with methanol-water systems as mobile phase. Separation efficiency and elution order of some isomeric pairs were influenced by both the structure of the C-24 ester groups and the nature of the columns used. Excellent chromatographic properties were found for those derivatives, particularly for the NPM esters.

Measurement of conjugated bile acids by ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography

Vhe quantitatively most important conjugated bile acids in man were separated by reversed-phase ion-pair chromatography without prior derivatization. As non-polar matrix an Ultrasphere I.P. column (C18) was used, and an ionic alkyl compound, tetrabutylammonium phosphate, was added to the mobile phase, which was a mixture of acetonitrile and water. Under these conditions, the glycine and taurine conjugates of cholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid and deoxycholic acid were separated within 15 min. At 214 nm, the minimum measurable concentration was 1.3-2.0 nmol/ml. The average recovery from bile was 94%. In ten patients with biliary drainage an average of 79.5% of the bile acids were glycine conjugates.

Analysis of bile acids by micro high-performance liquid chromatography with postcolumn enzyme reaction and fluorometric detection

Free and conjugated bile acids in human sera were analyzed by micro high-performance liquid chromatography with detection by an immobilized hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase postcolumn reaction and a spectrofluorometer. Bile acids could be effectively collected on a precolumn, 10 X 0.2 mm I.D., packed with silica-ODS (octadecylsilane), by passing a dilute phosphate solution of a serum through it. The detection limit was 0.13-0.28 pmole for a single-to-noise ratio of 2. An amount of 0.1 ml of serum was enough for analysing each bile acid in it.

The possible role of free fatty acids in the pathogenesis of cholesterol gallstones in man

The lipid composition of hepatic and gallbladder bile was examined in 20 patients with cholesterol gallstones and in 20 control subjects. Lipid fractions other than bile salts, phospholipids and cholesterol were found to be present, i.e., sterol esters, non-identified fractions and, above all, free fatty acids. The latter probably originated from biliary phospholipids via activity of phospholipases, present in the gallbladder wall. No significant difference in amount and pattern of free fatty acids and phospholipids was found in hepatic bile between patients with gallstones and controls. On the contrary, we observed relevant differences in the lipid composition of gallbladder bile. In this way, we consider that the bile becomes lithogenic inside the gallbladder as a consequence of release of free fatty acids, particularly if these are constituted by saturated chains. In fact, these can compete with cholesterol in the solubilization in biliary micelles. On the other hand, free fatty acids can be directly toxic for the gallbladder wall and produce a cholecystitis.

Micro high-performance liquid chromatographic separations of bile acids

Separations of bile acids by micro high-performance liquid chromatography (micro-HPLC) using an immobilized 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase post-column and a spectrofluorimeter are described. The sensitivity of detection is greatly increased by pre-mixing beta-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide with the mobile phase, using a single pump. The detection limit is 0.04-0.7 ng, depending on the solute. Instruments suitable for the analysis of bile acids in micro-HPLC are discussed.

Fluorescence high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of free and conjugated bile acids in serum and bile using 1-bromoacetylpyrene as a pre-labeling reagent

A fluorescence high-performance liquid chromatographic method is described for the determination of free and conjugated bile acids in serum and bile. Free and conjugated bile acids are extracted from serum or bile using a Sep-Pak C18 cartridge and then fractionated on a piperidinohydroxypropyl Sephadex LH-20 column. Free and glycine-conjugated bile acids are labeled with 1-bromoacetylpyrene in acetonitrile using dicyclohexyl-18-crown-6-ether as catalyst. Taurine-conjugated bile acids are hydrolyzed by cholylglycine hydrolase and then derivatized by the same reagent. Derivatized bile acids are separated stepwise on a reversed-phase column (Radial Pak A) using acetonitrile-methanol-water (A) (100 : 50 : 40) and (B) (100 : 50 : 20) as mobile phase. The eluate is monitored by a fluorophotometer at 370 nm (excitation) and 440 nm (emission). Linearities of fluorescence intensities (peak heights) with the amounts of free and conjugated bile acids were obtained between 50 pmol and 200 pmol for free bile acids and between 25 pmol and 100 pmol for glycine-conjugated bile acids, respectively. Recoveries from serum and bile samples are not less than 90%. This method is sensitive, reliable and useful for the simultaneous determination of free and conjugated bile acids in serum and bile.

Analysis of conjugated bile acids by high performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry

Because of the known advantages of coupling high performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) in biological fluids, studies on the reversed-phase HPLC-MS system for direct analysis of conjugated bile acids in human bile samples are described. Ten samples of gallbladder bile of apparently healthy subjects were examined. The amounts of each tauro- and glycoconjugated bile acid as trifluoracetate were determined by mass fragmentography. Quantitation of at least 1 ng of each bile acid was possible.

New derivatization reactions in pharmaceutical analysis

The application of chemical reactions in conjunction with spectrometric and chromatographic methods is exemplified by the formation of 2-nitrophenylhydrazide derivatives for the spectrometric assay of carboxylic acids; silylation and trifluoroacetylation of drugs for gas chromatography; selective reduction of steroid ketones for their IR spectrometric identification; the use of epoxidation in discriminating between saturated and unsaturated steroids in gas chromatography; increasing the selectivity and sensitivity of the spectrometric and gas chromatographic determination of isomeric Delta4- and Delta5-3-ethylenedioxy steroids by treatment with hydrochloric acid; and the use of the same reagent in the difference spectrometric determination of 2,5-dimethyl-alpha-ethyl benzhydrol.

Bile acid content of gallbladder bile and stones in type IIb and IV hyperlipoproteinemia

We examined the bile acid composition of gallbladder bile using reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), in normolipemic and hyperlipidemic (types IIb and IV) patients with cholelithiasis and compared them with normal subjects. Similarly, bile acid composition was determined n the gallstones of these patients. No free bile acids were found in any of the samples examined. We observed that gallbladder bile and gallstones of patients with type IV hyperlipidemia showed a significant increase in the percentage of glyco-conjugated bile acids and reduction in taurine conjugates. Based on this finding we postulate that in addition to biliary lipid composition bile acid composition may also play a role in the pathogenesis of cholesterol gallstone formation.