ENTEROHEPATIC CIRCULATION OF SULFUR IN FEMALE GOATS

Sulphur flow through the gut was monitored in eight adult female goats at differentstages in their reproductive cycle. The amount of S transferred from the body into digesta between the mouth and the transverse duodenum was directly proportional to the amount of nitrogen retained in the body and secreted in milk. S secretion into digesta was also a functionof metabolic body-weight (body-eight) in non-pregnant, non-lactating goats and in pregnant goats. During lactation there was an additional S input into digesta, and S gain was directlyproportional to the yield of milk N. The S was conserved by intestinal absorption and was recycled to the gut predominantly as carbon-bound (neutral) S in bile. The enterohepatic circulation may act as a mobile reserve of S, particularly of taurine. © 1990, The Nutrition Society. All rights reserved.