Effect of age on plasma bile acids and lipid components in the rat

With increasing age, total plasma bile acid contents increased in rats over a period of 11 months, and also total plasma cholesterol and carcass fat contents increased in the same manner. Plasma showing high bile acid levels at 11 months was found by means of high performance liquid chromatography to contain cholic acid as one of the major components, chenodeoxycholic acid and trace deoxycholic acid. These results suggest that there are close relationships between the plasma bile acids and age-dependent changes of lipid components in the rat.