ABSTRACT
The principal bile acid of Mongolian gerbil bile is cholic acid, although small amounts of chenodeoxycholic and lesser amounts of deoxycholic acids are identified. Muricholic acids were not found in gerbil bile. The ratio of trihydroxy to dihydroxy bile acids in gerbil bile is approximately 11:1. After administration of [4-(14)C]5alpha-cholestan-3beta-ol to gerbils with bile fistulas, 4-7% of the administered (14)C was recovered in bile and 16% in urine on the first 6 days. Alkaline hydrolysis of the bile afforded the biliary acids which were separated by partition chromatography. The (14)C ratio of trihydroxy to dihydroxy bile acids was 11:1. Allocholic acid was identified as the major acidic biliary metabolite. From analysis of (14)C retained in selected tissues, the adrenal gland appears to be an important site for retention of cholestanol or its metabolites.
