Hepatic taurine, glycine and individual bile acids in early human fetus.
OBJECTIVE
To examine 3alpha-hydroxy individual bile acid and the association between taurine and taurine-conjugated bile acid in human fetal liver.


METHODS
Taurine, glycine and the individual bile acids in liver samples taken from 17 human fetuses whose abortion was induced from 12 to 23 weeks' gestation were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography.


RESULTS
The concentrations of taurine, glycine and bile acids in early fetal life were not related to gestational age. Hepatic taurine was statistically correlated with total taurine-conjugates (r = 0.798; P < 0.0001), but hepatic glycine was not correlated with glycine-conjugates (r = -0.103; P > 0.05). Lithocholic acid was conjugated exclusively with taurine.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results supported that in human fetal life there is a considerable bile acid pool in liver, and that taurine works effectively on the bile acid metabolism depending on the hepatic taurine concentration.
Itoh
S
S
Department of Pediatrics, Kagawa Medical University, Miki, Kitagun, Japan.
Onishi
S
S
D000028:Abortion, Induced; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000032:analysis*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D005998:Glycine / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000196:embryology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013654:Taurine / Q000032:analysis*
D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D013654:Taurine; D005998:Glycine