Effect of pH on bile salt degradation by mixed fecal cultures

Stoll specimens from 3 healthy volunteers were cultured under an-aerobic conditions in brain heart infusion broth with and without the addition of cholate, deoxycholate of chenodeoxycholate. The initial pH of the medium was adjusted to 5.5, 6.3, 7.3 (unadjusted), 8.0, and 9.0. Cell-free extracts prepared from the resulting bacterial growth contained increased levels of NAD- and NADP-dependent 3alpha-, 7alpha-, and 12alpha-hydroxysteroid …