Bile Salt Synthesis Pathway

Bile Salt Synthesis Pathway. Bile salts are excreted into the bile and transported to the intestine via the intra- and extrahepatic bile. The major pathway for bile salt synthesis in the liver begins with the conversion of cholesterol to 7alpha-hydroxycholesterol.

Recycling of bile acids and salts. There are two major bile acid synthesis pathways in the liver. The primary bile acids cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid are synthesized in the liver and conjugated with taurine or glycine before secretion via bile into the intestine.

The classical or neutral pathway.

In addition some other minor pathways will also be described. Thus it has been proposed that bile salts inhibit their own synthesis. Two primary bile salts are synthesized in mammalian liver. This way cholic acid CA and CDCA are synthesized in almost equal amounts.