CONJUGATED AND UNCONJUGATED BILIRUBINS IN HUMANS AND RHESUS-MONKEYS - STRUCTURAL IDENTITY OF BILIRUBINS FROM BILES AND MECONIUMS OF NEWBORN HUMANS AND RHESUS-MONKEYS

Bilirubin-IXα monoglucuronide was the predominant bilirubin in biles and meconiums of newborn humans and rhesus monkeys. Rhesus-monkey biles contained slightly more diglucuronide than did human baby biles. Bilirubin-IXα glucoside, bilirubin-IXα xyloside and bilirubin-IXβ were also constituents of human and rhesus-monkey baby biles and meconiums. Bilirubin-IXα glucuronide glucoside was present in human and rhesus-monkey baby biles but not in meconiums. The identity of the bilirubins was confirmed by U.V.-visible and mass spectroscopy of the azodipyrroles obtained by treating the bilirubins corresponding azodipyrroles obtained from human adult biles and also from reduced isomers of biliverdin. Bilirubin-IXβ was present in much higher proportions in the extracts of meconiums than in the extracts of biles from the same babies. Oxidation of bilirubins to biliverdins occurs in utero to a small but undetermined extent. The resulting green pigments were present in meconiums collected from the lower small and large intestines of newborn babies and rhesus monkeys. Butanol extracted most of the bilirubins present in biles. This modified method proved to be quick and easy. Little hydrolysis of bilirubins took place during extraction or separation by t.l.c.