Composition of aqueous solutions containing sodium glycocholate and glycodeoxycholate

Composition and existence range of aggregates formed by sodium glycocholate and glycodeoxycholate contemporary present in aqueous micellar and premicellar solutions were investigated. Solubility measurements of lead (II) glycocholate and glycodeoxycholate give analytical concentration of lead (II) and glycocholate and glycodeoxycholate, respectively. Electromotive force measurements provide the free concentration of hydrogen, sodium and lead (II) ions. Experimental data obtained at 25 degrees C and at three different concentrations of N(CH3)4Cl, used as a constant ionic medium, can be explained by assuming the presence of aggregates of different composition depending on the reagent and ionic medium concentrations. Next to two species containing only glycocholate or glycodeoxycholate, the presence of aggregates formed with the contemporary participation of both bile anions in different ratios was assumed. Species with the hydrogen ion participation are not present in appreciable quantity in the investigated concentration range. As expected, the size of aggregates increases by increasing reagent and ionic medium concentration. Most of the species can be explained with a "core + link" mechanism, where all the glycocholate aggregation numbers are even, while those of glycodeoxycholate are always multiple of three. Analogy and difference with aggregates formed by the two bile anions separately are discussed.