Dynamics of the conjugate pattern during the infusion of bile acids into isolated rat liver

The conjugate pattern of biliary [14C]bile acids was investigated in isolated perfused rat livers, which were infused with either [24-14C]cholic acid or [24-14C]chenodeoxycholic acid (40 mumol/h) together with or without taurine or cysteine (80 mumol/h). [14C]Bile acids were chromatographed on a thin-layer plate and the distribution of radioactivity on the plate was measured by radioscanning. The biliary excretion of [14C]bile acids was greater in the infusion with [14C]cholic acid than in the infusion with [14C]chenodeoxycholic acid. Biliary unconjugated [14C]bile acids amounted to about 50% of the total after the infusion with [14C]cholic acid, while only about 10% with [14C]chenodeoxycholic acid. In the initial period of infusion, biliary conjugated [14C]bile acids consisted mostly of the taurine conjugate, which decreased with time and the glycine conjugate increased complementarily. When taurine was simultaneously infused, the decrease in the taurine conjugate was suppressed to some extent. Cysteine infused in place of taurine had a similar influence but was less effective than taurine. The taurine content of liver after the infusion with either of the [14C]bile acids decreased greatly compared with that before the infusion, even when taurine or cysteine was infused simultaneously. The glycine content also decreased after the infusion, but the decrease in glycine was smaller than that in taurine. The results suggest that the conjugate pattern of biliary bile acids in rats depends mainly on the amount of taurine which is supplied to hepatic cells either exogenously from plasma or endogenously within themselves.     

N-acetylglucosaminides. A new type of bile acid conjugate in man

Bile acids were extracted from human urine and were separated into groups of nonamidated and glycine- and taurine-conjugated compounds. Each group was subfractionated in a reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography system, and the fractions were analyzed by negative ion fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry and also by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after enzymatic removal of glycine and taurine moieties. The major glycosides of the non-amidated bile acids were more polar than reference bile acid glucosides and gave quasimolecular ions at m/z 592, 594, and 610 consistent with N-acetylglucosaminides of unsaturated dihydroxy and saturated di- and trihydroxy bile acids. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses of methyl ester trimethylsilyl ether derivatives showed fragments typical for N-acetylglucosaminides (m/z 173 and 186) in addition to those also given by glucosides (m/z 204 and 217). The N-acetylglucosaminides were inert toward alpha- and beta-glucosidase but were cleaved completely with N-acetylglucosaminidase. The released sugar moiety was identified as N-acetylglucosamine. One of the liberated bile acids was identified as ursodeoxycholic acid. The other acids were not identical to any known primary or secondary bile acid in humans. Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry analyses of the glycine-and taurine-conjugated bile acid glycosides only showed ions consistent with the presence of glucosides (m/z 626 and 676). These compounds were sensitive only toward beta-glucosidase which liberated a trihydroxy bile acid as the major compound. Based on the recover of 13C- and 14C-labeled chenodeoxycholic acid glucoside added as internal standard, the daily excretion of nonamidated bile acid glycosides was estimated to be about 137 micrograms or 0.29 mumol, N-acetylglucosaminides constituting about 90%. The daily excretion of the glucosides of amidated bile acids was about 150 micrograms or 0.25 mumol, glycine conjugates constituting about 90%.     

Biological properties of the 2-fluoro-beta-alanine conjugates of cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid in the isolated perfused rat liver

The isolated perfused rat liver was used to examine the hepatic extraction, biliary secretion and effect on bile flow of the 2-fluoro-beta-alanine conjugates of cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid. The naturally occurring taurine and glycine conjugates of these bile acids were used for comparisons. The 2-fluoro-beta-alanine conjugates were extracted by the liver to a similar extent as the taurine and glycine conjugates. The biliary secretion rate and increase in bile flow were similar for all the cholic acid conjugates. On the other hand, the maximal biliary secretion rate of the 2-fluoro-beta-alanine conjugate of chenodeoxycholate was similar to that of the glycochenodeoxycholate, but 47% lower than that of taurochenodeoxycholate. In addition, the 2-fluoro-beta-alanine conjugate of chenodeoxycholate produced a decrease in bile flow that was comparable to that observed with the glycochenodeoxycholate (54% vs. 74%), but which was greater than that produced by the taurochenodeoxycholate (12%). In summary, these data demonstrate that the biological properties of the 2-fluoro-beta-alanine conjugates of cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid are not markedly different from those of the naturally occurring taurine and glycine conjugates. These data also suggest that the amino acid moiety can influence the biliary secretion and cholestatic properties of chenodeoxycholic acid conjugates.     

BILIARY BILE ACID COMPOSITION OF THE PHYSETERIDAE (SPERM WHALES)

Abstract: The bile acid composition of bile obtained from the hepatopancreatic ducts of three species of sperm whales (Cetacea: Physeteridae) was investigated. Bile acids were isolated by adsorption chromatography and analyzed by sequential HPLC, SIMS, and GLC-MS. In each species the dominant bile acids were deoxycholic acid (a secondary bile acid formed by bacterial 7α-dehydroxylation of cholic acid), and chenodeoxycholic acid (a primary bile acid) which together composed more than 86% of biliary bile acids in all three species. In Physeter catodon (sperm whale) deoxycholic acid constituted 79%, and in Kogia breviceps (pygmy sperm whale) it was 61% of biliary bile acids. The sperm whale, which differs from other whales in having a remnant of a large intestine, is the second mammal identified to date in which deoxycholic acid is the predominant bile acid. The high proportion of deoxycholic acid indicates that in the Physeteridae, anaerobic fermentation occurs in its cecum, and that bile acids undergo enterohepatic cycling. Also found were minor proportions of cholic acid, as well as bacterial derivatives of chenodeoxycholic acid (ursodeoxycholic acid, lithocholic acid, and the 12β-epimer of allo-deoxycholic acid). Bile acids were conjugated with taurine in all species; however, in the sperm whale ( Physeter ) glycine conjugates were present in trace proportions. The bile acid hydroxylation pattern (12α- but not 6α-hydroxylation), lack of primary 5α- (allo) bile acids, and presence of glycine conjugated bile acids suggests the possibility that sperm whales originated from ancient artiodactyls.     

Partitioning of bile acids into subcellular organelles and the in vivo distribution of bile acids in rat liver.

1. The subcellular distribution of conjugates of cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid between cytosol, nuclei, mitochondria and microsomes in rat liver has been determined. 2. The partition coefficients for the distribution of these bile acids between subcellular fractions and buffer have been measured and used to construct a compartmental model of the amounts of conjugated bile acids present in the different subcellular organelles in vivo. 3. This model indicates that a large percentage of the bile acid in the rat liver is found in the nuclear fraction; 42% of the cholic acid conjugates and 27% of the chenodeoxycholic acid conjugates. Substantial amounts of bile acid are also present in microsomes and mitochondria suggesting that published estimates of the amounts of bile acids in these fractions are underestimates. 4. The model also allows the amount of bile acid which is in free solution in cytosol to be determined; 10.9% of the cholic acid conjugates and 4.1% of the chenodeoxycholic acid conjugates in rat liver were present in this fraction. Knowlege of the amount of free bile acid allows possible roles of the cytosolic bile binding proteins to be assessed.     

Sterol and bile acid metabolism during development. 1. Studies on the gallbladder and intestinal bile acids of newborn and fetal rabbit

Bile acid composition and content in the intestine and gallbladder of newborn and fetal rabbits were investigated. Unlike the circumstances in adult rabbits, the bile acids were conjugated with both taurine and glycine. The major bile acids of the fetus and newborn rabbit were cholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid, and deoxycholic acid. This is different from the known bile acid composition of adult rabbits, in which deoxycholic acid is the major bile acid (> 80%). The proportion of chenodeoxycholic acid was higher in the fetal than in the newborn tissues. The total bile acid pool in the newborn was higher than in the fetus. In the fetus, large proportions of bile acids (60.9%) were associated with the gallbladder fraction, whereas in the newborn the bulk of the bile acids were found with the intestinal fraction (64.4%),     

High pressure liquid chromatographic analysis of conjugated bile acids in human bile: simultaneous resolution of sulfated and unsulfated lithocholyl amidates and the common conjugated bile acids

A reversed phase high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) system capable of simultaneously separating four lithocholyl species (sulfated and unsulfated forms of lithocholylglycine and lithocholyltaurine) as well as the eight other major conjugated bile acids present in human bile is described. The system uses a C18 octadecylsilane column and isocratic elution with methanol phosphate buffer, pH 5.35. Relative bile acid concentration is determined by absorbance at 200 nm. Retention times relative to chenodeoxycholylglycine are reported for the four lithocholic acid forms, the glycine and taurine amidate of the four major bile acids present in human bile (cholic, chenodeoxycholic, ursodeoxycholic, and deoxycholic), and for their corresponding unconjugated forms. Retention times are also reported for the glycine and taurine amidates as well as the unconjugated form of the C23 norderivatives of these bile acids. Maximal absorbance of bile acid amidates is at 200 nm and is very similar for the (unsulfated) glycine and taurine amidates. Sulfated lithocholyl amidates exhibit molar absorptivities at 200 nm which are 1.4 times greater than that of non-sulfated lithocholyl amidates. Unconjugated bile acid absorbance at 200 nm or 210 nm is 20 to 30 times less than that of corresponding peptide conjugates. The method has been applied to samples of gallbladder bile obtained from 14 healthy subjects to define the pattern of conjugated bile acids present in human bile.     

Radioassay of bile acid coenzyme A:glycine/taurine: N-acyltransferase using an n-butanol solvent extraction procedure

A rapid, specific, and sensitive radioassay for measuring bile acid CoA:glycine/taurine: N-acyltransferase (EC 2.3.1) has been developed. In this assay, 3H-labeled amino acids (glycine or taurine) are conjugated with unlabeled bile acid CoA derivatives to form 3H-labeled bile acid amidates. Following incubation, the 3H-labeled bile acid amidate is separated from the unreacted amino acid by an n-butanol extraction method. The extraction procedure was developed by evaluating the effects of buffer concentration and pH on the recovery of radiolabeled bile acid amidate standards in the presence of human hepatic cytosol. Highest recovery (greater than 90%) of bile acid amidate standards occurred under acidic conditions (pH 2) in the presence of 1% (w/v) SDS. When the radioassay and accompanying n-butanol extraction procedure were utilized to study the amidation of glycine or taurine with cholic acid in human hepatic cytosol, a single peak of radioactivity corresponding with either authentic glycocholate or taurocholate was detected in the n-butanol phase by high-performance liquid chromatography. This assay for bile acid CoA:glycine/taurine: N-acyltransferase activity was linear with incubation time and protein concentration. This assay should be useful in the biochemical studies of this enzyme, as well as in the examination of bile acid amidation in clinical liver specimens.     

Determination of individual conjugated bile acids in human bile

A method has been developed and validated for the determination of the six major conjugated bile acids, cholesterol, and total phospholipids in bile of human subjects previously injected with 4-(14)C-cholesterol. The procedure is designed for use with 5-10 ml of duodenal or T-tube bile and eliminates difficulties associated with existing methods for bile acid determination, in particular the requirement for preliminary saponification under pressure or the use of paper chromatography. Saponification under pressure is employed only in steps where partial destruction of the steroid moiety of conjugated bile acids is not a crucial matter. A preliminary Folch extraction and washing step separated free cholesterol and phospholipids (bottom layer) from the six major conjugated bile acids (top layer). The conjugated bile acids were then fractionated cleanly by thin-layer chromatography to give four groups, the (14)C content of each of which was determined. A second aliquot of the top layer was used to determine (after deconjugation) the radioactivity ratio of deoxycholic acid to chenodeoxycholic acid for the two unresolved groups (dihydroxycholanoic acid conjugates with glycine and taurine, respectively). A third aliquot was used for determination of specific activities of the methyl esters of cholic, chenodeoxycholic, and deoxycholic acids derived from the total bile salts. Appropriate calculations yielded the concentration in bile of all six major bile acid conjugates.     

Bile acid profiles in bile, urine, and feces of a patient with cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis

Bile acid profiles of bile, urine, and feces obtained from a patient with cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis on the same day have been analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry after fractionation into groups by mode of conjugation by an ion-exchange chromatography. The predominant biliary bile acid was cholic acid conjugated with glycine and taurine. Lesser amounts of the amino acid conjugates of chenodeoxycholic acid, ursodeoxycholic acid, 7-ketodeoxycholic acid, allocholic acid, and deoxycholic acid, and of unconjugated norcholic acid and allonorcholic acid were also present in the bile. The major fecal bile acid was 7-epicholic acid. Relatively large amounts of bile acids were excreted in the urine. Unconjugated 7-epicholic acid, norcholic acid, allonorcholic acid, and cholic acid predominated. The bile acid profiles of the patient were different from those of normal subjects and should be useful for the diagnosis.     

Formation of bile acid glucosides and dolichyl phosphoglucose by microsomal glucosyltransferases in liver, kidney and intestine of man

Formation of glucosides of the bile acids chenodeoxycholic, ursodeoxycholic, deoxycholic and hyodeoxycholic acids has been detected in microsomes from human liver, kidney and intestinal mucosa. Hepatic and extrahepatic bile acid glucosyltransferase activities were characterized with respect to kinetic parameters and other catalytic properties. Whereas no marked organ-specific differences in the affinities of individual bile acids toward hepatic and extrahepatic glucosyltransferases were observed, microsomes from extrahepatic sources showed twice to 5-times the maximal rates of bile acid glucosidation estimated with microsomes from liver. In addition to bile acid glucoside formation, microsomes from human liver, kidney and intestinal mucosa catalyzed the synthesis of dolichyl phosphoglucose acting as natural glucosyl donor in bile acid glucosidation.     

Quantitative determination of bile acids in bile with reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

Separation and quantitation of glycine and taurine conjugates of commonly occurring bile acids in bile, i.e. lithocholic, deoxycholic, chenodeoxycholic, ursodeoxycholic and cholic acids in their naturally occurring states have been successfully accomplished using high-performance liquid chromatography. No preliminary purification of bile acids is required except ethanol extraction of bile. A μ Bondapak C₁₈ column and acetonitrile—methanol—phosphate buffer and ultraviolet detector at 200 nm were used. Detection limit was 0.05 μg and linearity was observed in the range up to 16 μg. Bile acid composition of ten randomly chosen normal human gallbladder bile samples is given. A large difference in bile acid composition between glycine and taurine conjugates was found to be present.     

HepG2. A human hepatoblastoma cell line exhibiting defects in bile acid synthesis and conjugation

We used capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry to demonstrate that a cell line derived from a well differentiated human hepatoblastoma, HepG2, synthesized and secreted the following bile acids (ng/10(7) cells/h): chenodeoxycholic acid (131.4), cholic acid (3.3), 3 alpha, 7 alpha-dihydroxy-5 beta-cholestan-26-oic acid (DHCA; 4.5), and 3 alpha, 7 alpha, 12 alpha-trihydroxy-5 beta-cholestan-26-oic acid (THCA; 32.0). Deuterium from [7 beta-2H]7 alpha-hydroxycholesterol, which was added to the media, was incorporated into newly synthesized chenodeoxycholic acid, DHCA, and THCA, but not into cholic acid. Since THCA is a known precursor of cholic acid, these data suggest that HepG2 is specifically deficient in the side chain cleavage that transforms THCA into cholic acid. Greater than 90% of the bile acids synthesized and secreted by HepG2 were unconjugated. Conjugation could not be stimulated by the addition of glycine or taurine to the media. Approximately 30% of newly synthesized DHCA and THCA were sulfated. Chenodeoxycholic acid and cholic acid were not appreciably sulfated. In summary, cultured HepG2 cells synthesize bile acid, but in a pattern distinct from that of adult human liver. This cell line may be a model for studying pathways of human bile acid synthesis, conjugation, and sulfation.     

A rapid non-chromatographic analysis of individual bile acids in human bile extracts

It is postulated that the six conjugated bile acids of most common occurrence in human bile could be analyzed by three enzymic and one chemical assay without any prior chromatographic separation of the bile acids. In health, all bile acids in liver or gall bladder bile are conjugated with either glycine or taurine and have an a-hydroxyl group at the 3 position. In addition, the trihydroxy bile acid, cholic (C) has a 7α- and a 12α-hydroxy group while the dihydroxy bile acids either have a second hydroxyl group at the 7α-position (chenodeoxycholic acid, CDC) or at the 12α-position (deoxycholic acid, DC). Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (HSDH) specific for oxido-reductase activity at the 3α-, 7α- and 12α-positions would directly quantify these 3α-, 7α- and 12α-hydroxyl groups in a sample of bile or bile extract. Subsequent data would be used to solve three simultaneous equations yielding solutions for the overall concentrations of conjugated C, conjugated CDC and conjugated DC on the assumption that the overall concentration of lithocholic acid is negligible (< 2 %). A suitable assay for the sulphonate group containing taurine conjugates, such as that described by Christie, Macdonald & Williams, 1975, along with the total bile acid measurement would readily facilitate the estimation of the glycine/taurine ($\text{G}\text{T}$) ratio. This ratio applied to the enzymatically derived estimates for conjugated DC, CDC and C would approximate the glycodeoxycholate (GDC), glycochenodeoxycholate (GCDC), glycocholate (GC), taurodeoxycholate (TDC), taurochenodeoxycholate (TCDC) and taurocholate (TC) concentrations. Figures for these concentrations would be based on the assumption that the $\text{G}\text{T}$ ratio is approximately the same for each bile acid and that all the bile acids are conjugated.     

Hydroxylation, conjugation and sulfation of bile acids in primary monolayer cultures of rat hepatocytes

Hydroxylation of lithocholic, chenodeoxycholic, deoxycholic and cholic acids was studied in monolayers of rat hepatocytes cultured for 76 h. The majority of added lithocholic and chenodeoxycholic acids was metabolized to beta-muricholic acid (56-76%). A small part of these bile acids (9%), however, and a considerable amount of deoxycholic and cholic acids (21%) were converted into metabolites more polar than cholic acid in the first culture period. Formation of these compounds decreased during the last day of culture. Bile acids synthesized after addition of [4-14C]-cholesterol were almost entirely (97%) sulfated and/or conjugated, predominantly with taurine (54-66%), during culture. Sulfated bile acids were mainly composed of free bile acids. The ability of hepatocytes to sulfurylate bile acids declined with culture age. Thus, rat hepatocytes in primary monolayer culture are capable to sulfurylate bile acids and to hydroxylate trihydroxylated bile acids, suggesting formation of polyhydroxylated metabolites.     

Determination of bile acids in biological fluids by liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

A simple, sensitive, and specific liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the determination of bile acids in human bile has been developed. The bile acids were extracted with a C(18) (octadecyl) reversed-phase column and identified and quantified by simultaneous monitoring of their parent and daughter ions, using the multiple reaction monitoring mode. Identification and quantification of conjugated bile acids in bile was achieved in 5 min. The detection limit was 1 ng, and the determination was linear for concentrations up to 100 ng. The percent recovery of standards made of single conjugated (glycine and taurine) bile acid or of mixture of glycine- or taurine-conjugated cholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid, deoxycholic acid, ursodeoxycholic acid, and lithocholic acid averaged 71.73% to 95.92%. The percent recovery of the same standard bile acids was also determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), using the selected ion monitoring mode, and averaged 66% to 96%. A biliary bile acid profile of human gallbladder bile was obtained by LC-MS/MS and GC-MS.The results showed a good correlation between the two techniques and no significant differences between the two methods were observed. The LC-MS/MS method was also used for the analysis of serum, urine, and fecal bile acids. In conclusion, LC-MS/MS is a simple, sensitive, and rapid technique for the analysis of conjugated bile acids in bile and other biological samples. - Perwaiz, S., B. Tuchweber, D. Mignault, T. Gilat, and I. M. Yousef. Determination of bile acids in biological fluids by liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. J. Lipid Res. 2001. 42: 114;-119.     

Determination of fetal bile acids in biological fluids from neonates by gas chromatography-negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry

A method has been developed for microanalysis of fetal bile acids in biological fluids from neonates by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using negative-ion chemical ionization of pentafluorobenzyl ester-dimethylethylsilyl ether derivatives of bile acids. Calibration curves for the bile acid derivatives are useful over the range 0.1–100 pg and the detection limit for bile acids was 1 fg (S/N=5) using isobutane as a reagent gas. Recoveries of the bile acids and their glycine and taurine conjugates from bile acid-free serum and dried blood discs ranged from 92 to 101% and from 93 to 108%, respectively, of the added amounts of their standard samples. The analysis of bile acids on a dried blood disc, meconium and urine from infants, exhibited significant hydroxylation at the 1β-, 2β-, 4β and 6α-positions of the usual bile acids, cholic and chenodeoxycholic acids, for the urinary or fecal excretion of bile acids in the fetal and neonatal periods. The present method was applied clinically to analyze bile acids on a dried blood disc from neonatal patients with congenital biliary atresia and hyper-bile-acidemia.     

Sex differences in the bile acid composition of human bile: Studies in patients with and without gallstones

The bile acid composition of human gallbladder bile was studied in 83 subjects, 20 of each sex without discernible hepatobiliary disease, and 20 men and 23 women with cholelithiasis. The bile acids were measured by combined thin-layer and gas-liquid chromatography.In the bile of patients without cholelithiasis the molar percent of cholic acid was significantly greater in men while that of chenodeoxycholic acid was significantly greater in women.In the bile of patients with cholelithiasis the concentration of total bile acids was reduced in both sexes but there was no sex difference in the molar percent of any of the bile acids. The molar percent of CDCA (both glycine and taurine conjugates) was reduced in women, while the molar percent of CA (only the glycine conjugate) was reduced in men.     

Control of Bile Salt Synthesis

THE regulation of bile salt synthesis in man is still poorly understood. The human liver synthesizes a trihydroxy and a dihydroxy bile acid, cholic and chenodeoxycholic acid, each conjugated with glycine or taurine. These, together with deoxycholic acid, a dihydroxy bile acid which results from the 7-α dehydroxylation of cholic acid by intestinal bacteria, constitute approximately 98% of the bile salt pool which circulates enterohepatically during digestion of a meal¹. Lindstedt found that the composition of the bile salt pool varies little from day to day in any one individual² and this has also been our experience on analysis of 48 bile samples collected on different days from 16 volunteers. However, the evidence that bile salt synthesis is regulated by a negative feedback mechanism is scanty³ apart from the increased synthesis that follows interruption of the enterohepatic circulation^4–6.     

Human cecal bile acids: concentration and spectrum

To obtain information on the concentration and spectrum of bile acids in human cecal content, samples were obtained from 19 persons who had died an unnatural death from causes such as trauma, homicide, suicide, or drug overdose. Bile acid concentration was measured via an enzymatic assay for 3alpha-hydroxy bile acids; bile acid classes were determined by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and individual bile acids by gas chromatography mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. The 3alpha-hydroxy bile acid concentration (mumol bile acid/ml cecal content) was 0.4 +/- 0.2 mM (mean +/- SD); the total 3-hydroxy bile acid concentration was 0.6 +/- 0.3 mM. The aqueous concentration of bile acids (supernatant after centrifugation) was identical, indicating that most bile acids were in solution. By liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, bile acids were mostly in unconjugated form (90 +/- 9%, mean +/- SD); sulfated, nonamidated bile acids were 7 +/- 5%, and nonsulfated amidated bile acids (glycine or taurine conjugates) were 3 +/- 7%. By gas chromatography mass spectrometry, 10 bile acids were identified: deoxycholic (34 +/- 16%), lithocholic (26 +/- 10%), and ursodeoxycholic (6 +/- 9), as well as their primary bile acid precursors cholic (6 +/- 9%) and chenodeoxycholic acid (7 +/- 8%). In addition, 3beta-hydroxy derivatives of some or all of these bile acids were present and averaged 27 +/- 18% of total bile acids, indicating that 3beta-hydroxy bile acids are normal constituents of cecal content. In the human cecum, deconjugation and dehydroxylation of bile acids are nearly complete, resulting in most bile acids being in unconjugated form at submicellar and subsecretory concentrations.