Supplementary Studies on the Effect of Experimental Diabetes on the Metabolism of Bile Acids in Rats

Yoshio Ogura, Koji Kimura and Michio Ogura

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683, Japan

The effects of experimental diabetes on bile acid metabolism were studied in isolated perfused rat livers. No difference was found in the conversion rate of 5β-[4-¹⁴C]cholestane-3α,7α,12α-triol into [¹⁴C]cholic acid between the control and diabetic livers. Although the taurine content was greater in the diabetic liver than in the control liver, the percentage of glycine conjugate of [¹⁴C]cholic acid that formed from the [¹⁴C]trihydroxycholestane was found to be greater in the diabetic liver than in the control liver. A trace amount of [24-¹⁴C]cholic acid gave only its taurine conjugate in both the control and diabetic livers. The 7α-hydroxylation of [24-¹⁴C]deoxycholic acid was not affected by diabetes. Insulin did not have any effect on the altered metabolism of bile acids, when administered acutely. Taking these results into account, the effect of diabetes on the metabolism of bile acids was discussed.

Key words: bile acid; diabetes; 5β-cholestane-3α,7α, 12α-triol; insulin; conjugation

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