The essential role of bile in the intestinal absorption of cholesterol

The role of bile in the absorption of cholesterol from the intestinal tract was studied in biliary-fistula rabbits, and comparison was made with normal controls. The whole blood cholesterol radioactivity and the cholesterol specific activity subsequent to a standard intragastric dose of cholesterol-4-C¹⁴ were used to measure cholesterol absorption. Average 6 day whole blood values were: controls, 2,458 counts per minute per milliliter and 2,735 counts per minute per milligram specific activity; external biliary-fistula rabbits, 8.5 counts per minute per milliliter and 10 counts per minute per milligram specific activity. It is concluded from these data that in the absence of bile from the in vivo rabbit intestinal tract there is essentially complete absence of cholesterol absorption.