Early-Labeled Peak of Bile Pigment in Man

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Abstract
ACCORDING to our present knowledge bilirubin is derived exclusively from the catabolism of heme, most of which is present in the hemoglobin of erythroid cells. Thus, most of the bilirubin produced under normal conditions originates from red blood cells at the end of their physiologic life-span. In human subjects given a labeled precursor of heme, such as glycine-15N or 14C, a large late peak of labeled bile pigment is observed in the feces between ninety and one hundred and fifty days after isotope administration,1 , 2 conforming to the average erythrocyte life-span of one hundred and twenty days. In addition, however, . . .