Investigations of the enterobiliary metabolism of lecithin
Tompkins, R.K.; King, W.
Surgery 75(2): 243-252
1974
ISSN/ISBN: 0039-6060 PMID: 4812047 Document Number: 78991
Lecithin-U-14C dissolved in bile was introduced into the duodenal lumen of four 2-month-old pigs. Samples of lymph, bile and blood were collected before, at 5, 15 and 30 min and at 30-min intervals thereafter for up to 8.5 h. In lymph and portal and systemic blood the triglyceride fraction contained the highest percentage of radioactivity and the contribution of that fraction to total radioactivity increased with time; in bile 70% of the radioactivity was in the phosphatidylcholine (lecithin) fraction 8 h after administration of the marker. It is suggested that dietary lecithin contributes to the biliary lecithin pool through one or more of its intestinal hydrolytic products. Pigs with intact thoracic ducts showed the same cumulative rise in biliary lipid radioactivity as did those with thoracic duct fistulae, indicating that intestinal precursors of biliary lecithin synthesis may reach the liver by a route other than the thoracic duct.