• In rabbits, bile acids are produced in a circadian rhythm.
• Bile acids are predominantly made up of cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid.
• Primary bile acids are derived from cholesterol in the liver.
• Bile acids are conjugated in the liver with taurine or glycine and are excreted in bile via the bile duct as their sodium salts (bile salts).
• Bile acids are secreted at time of eating to small intestine where they aid in digestion and absorption of fat and fat-soluble vitamins.
• Bile acids are reabsorbed from the gastrointestinal tract into the circulation.  They are transported to the liver to be re-secreted in the bile.
• In rabbits, caecotrophy significantly reduced the ability to obtain a fasted blood sample and because of this bile acid measurement is not a routine procedure in clinical practice.
• To date, as far as the author is aware, bile acids are not included in published references ranges for rabbits.
• In other species bile acids are a sensitive indicator of liver function and of integrity of liver, biliary and intestinal circulation.

Uses

Alone

• In other species bile acids are used as an assessment of liver function.
• In other species measurement can aid in the diagnosis of a portosystemic shunt.
• In other species a bile acid stimulation test is an even more sensitive test for liver function than fasted bile acids.
• In rabbits, cecotrophy significantly reduced the ability to obtain a fasted blood sample and because of this bile acid measurement is not a routine procedure in clinical practice. Only persistently raised levels are of value in clinical rabbit practice.