SEPARATION OF BILE ACID CONJUGATES BY ION EXCHANGE CHROMATOGRAPHY

Abstract

A simple and reliable method for the separation of bile acid conjugates in quantities ranging from a few milligrams to several grams has been developed utilizing ion exchange resins. The bile acid conjugates were absorbed from an aqueous 25% ethanol solution on a Dowex-1 anion exchange column (acetate form). After the column was washed with aqueous 25% ethanol, the glycine conjugates were eluted with 0.05 N HCl in 25% ethanol and the taurine conjugates with 0.5 N HCl in 25% ethanol. The method permitted a complete resolution of the glycine and taurine conjugates. In addition, there was an effective though not complete separation of the tri- and di-hydroxy cholanic acid derivatives within each conjugate group. Using this method satisfactory fractionations have been performed on gallbladder bile from dog, ox, and man.