AJP - Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology, Vol 239, Issue 5 354-G357, Copyright © 1980 by American Physiological Society
Fetal bile salt metabolism: placental transfer of taurocholate in sheep
R. B. Sewell, K. J. Hardy, R. A. Smallwood and N. E. Hoffman
Bidirectional placental transfer of taurocholate was studied in conscious,
pregnant sheep near term. In studies of maternal-to-fetal transfer sodium,
[14C]cholate was injected intravenously daily into the mother to label the
endogenous cholate pool. Ninety-five percent of the radiolabel was present
in the maternal pool as [14C]taurocholate. No radiolabel was detected in
the fetal bile over 6-9 days, indicating minimal placental transfer of
taurocholate to the fetus. In contrast, mean fetal-to-maternal transfer of
taurocholate, studied over 3-4 days, was 2.6 mumol/24 h, representing
approximately 2%/day of the fetal taurocholate pool. We conclude that in
the sheep placental transfer from the mother, at term, contributes little
if any taurocholate to the fetal pool. However, the placenta may be an
important excretory organ for fetal bile salts, thus playing a key role in
fetal steriol homeostasis.
