Biomaterial Database

Fetal bile salt metabolism: placental transfer of taurocholate in sheep. 1980

R B Sewell, and K J Hardy, and 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.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008431	Maternal-Fetal Exchange	Exchange of substances between the maternal blood and the fetal blood at the PLACENTA via PLACENTAL CIRCULATION. The placental barrier excludes microbial or viral transmission.	Transplacental Exposure,Exchange, Maternal-Fetal,Exposure, Transplacental,Maternal Fetal Exchange
D010920	Placenta	A highly vascularized mammalian fetal-maternal organ and major site of transport of oxygen, nutrients, and fetal waste products. It includes a fetal portion (CHORIONIC VILLI) derived from TROPHOBLASTS and a maternal portion (DECIDUA) derived from the uterine ENDOMETRIUM. The placenta produces an array of steroid, protein and peptide hormones (PLACENTAL HORMONES).	Placentoma, Normal,Placentome,Placentas,Placentomes
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D005260	Female		Females
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001647	Bile Acids and Salts	Steroid acids and salts. The primary bile acids are derived from cholesterol in the liver and usually conjugated with glycine or taurine. The secondary bile acids are further modified by bacteria in the intestine. They play an important role in the digestion and absorption of fat. They have also been used pharmacologically, especially in the treatment of gallstones.	Bile Acid,Bile Salt,Bile Salts,Bile Acids,Acid, Bile,Acids, Bile,Salt, Bile,Salts, Bile
D012756	Sheep	Any of the ruminant mammals with curved horns in the genus Ovis, family Bovidae. They possess lachrymal grooves and interdigital glands, which are absent in GOATS.	Ovis,Sheep, Dall,Dall Sheep,Ovis dalli
D013656	Taurocholic Acid	The product of conjugation of cholic acid with taurine. Its sodium salt is the chief ingredient of the bile of carnivorous animals. It acts as a detergent to solubilize fats for absorption and is itself absorbed. It is used as a cholagogue and cholerectic.	Cholyltaurine,Taurine Cholate,Taurocholate,Sodium Taurocholate,Taurocholate Sodium,Taurocholic Acid, (5 alpha)-Isomer,Taurocholic Acid, (7 beta)-Isomer,Taurocholic Acid, Monolithium Salt,Taurocholic Acid, Monosodium Salt,Taurocholate, Sodium