The Metabolism in Vivo and in Vitro of 3-Oxo-7α-hydroxychol-4-enoic Acid-24-14C as an Intermediate of Chenodeoxycholic Acid Biogenesis

3-Oxo-7α-hydroxychol-4-enoic acid-24-14C was effectively converted to chenodeoxycholic acid together with α- and β-muricholic acids by rats furnished with a bile fistula. It was also transformed to chenodeoxycholic acid by the supernatant of a rat liver homogenate fortified with NADPH. These results are discussed on the basis of the new biogenetic pathway of chenodeoxycholic acid proposed by Ayaki and Yamasaki (1).