1. Bile from rachitic or normal chicks causes an immediate increase in the intestinal absorption of soluble calcium in rachitic and vitamin D(3)-treated chicks as tested in vivo by intestinal-loop and oral-dosing methods. 2. This effect is apparently solely due to the taurine-conjugated bile acids present in the bile and is independent of the action of vitamin D. 3. Chick bile and bile acids can increase the solubility and the absorption of calcium presented as sparingly soluble calcium hydrogen phosphate. 4. In addition, bile is necessary to some extent at least for the intestinal absorption of vitamin D(3) in the chick and this would indirectly enhance the absorption of calcium. 5. Thus bile is capable of a threefold action in the absorption of calcium in the chick. It is suggested that the direct action on sparingly soluble forms of calcium is of considerable physiological importance since most of the calcium in the normal bird's diet would be in this form. 6. Bile acids enhance the absorption of calcium in all regions of the small intestine of the chick. 7. Of a range of bile acids and detergents tested for enhancement of calcium absorption, various taurine-conjugated bile acids and sodium lauryl sulphate, an anionic detergent, are effective. A non-ionic detergent (Tween 80) and a cationic detergent (Zephiran) are without effect. 8. The ability of a substance to increase directly the intestinal absorption of soluble calcium appears to depend to some extent on an anionic detergent action, i.e. the ability to form a salt or complex soluble to some extent in both aqueous and lipid phases. 9. In chicks the immediate deposition of calcium ((45)Ca) in the bones closely reflects any increase in plasma calcium radioactivity regardless of the cause of the increase and regardless of the vitamin D(3) status. Although sodium lauryl sulphate can increase markedly the calcium absorption from the gut and the immediate deposition in the bones it has no significant effect on rickets. 10. Some of the implications of these findings are discussed.
1. The study of the effect of bile salts on enhancing calcium absorption in the rachitic chick has been extended to bile salts not present in chick bile, e.g. glycine conjugates and bile alcohol sulphates. 2. Bile and bile salts cause an increase in calcium absorption from sparingly soluble calcium hydrogen phosphate when compared with a suspension of calcium hydrogen phosphate in saline. 3. If the bile ducts of normal rats are tied the absorption of calcium from calcium hydrogen phosphate decreases but can be restored by giving bile salts with the calcium salt. 4. Bile salts increase solubility in water of the sparingly soluble calcium salts, phytate and phosphate at pH values between 6 and 8. 5. Bile salts increase the solubility in lipid solvents of calcium in approximately the same proportion as they increase the absorption of calcium from the gut. 6. The physiological role of bile in calcium absorption and its mode of action are discussed.
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