THE ROLE OF BILE IN THE ABSORPTION OF STEROID HORMONES FROM THE GASTRO-INTESTINAL TRACT1

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Abstract
To determine the role of bile in the absorption of steroid hormones and related substances, crystalline dehydroisoandrosterone, progesterone and desoxycorticosterone acetate were administered by gavage to normal rabbits and rabbits in which bile was prevented from reaching the gastrointestinal tract by transection of the common bile duct. In each group of animals, the amts. of metabolites of the administered steroids, excreted in the urine, were detd. The animals with transected bile ducts, treated with dehydroisoandrosterone, excreted as much 17-ketosteroids as did the normal animals similarly treated. The rabbits with biliary obstruction which were given progesterone and desoxycorticosterone acetate excreted pregnane-diol glucuronide in amts. equal to of greater than control animals treated in the same way. Evidently dehydroisoandrosterone, progesterone and desoxycorticosterone acetate can be absorbed from the gastro-intestinal tract of the rabbit in the absence of bile.