Sex differences in rat liver bile acids

Male Wistar rats show higher relative liver weights and higher weights of mitochondrial and microsomal fractions than females. Their relation of subcellular fraction weights tends more to the microsomal side. In liver homogenate and subcellular compartments, males contain significantly higher concentrations of beta-muricholic acid and other metabolites of chenodeoxycholic acid, females higher proportions of chenodeoxycholic acid. Higher concentrations of potentially toxic nonsulphated dihydroxy bile acids in the liver of female rats could be a sign of slower elimination, and the cause of higher susceptibility of females to liver injury induced by bile acid administration.