The simulator demonstrates the complete enterohepatic circulation loop: hepatic synthesis of bile acids from cholesterol via CYP7A1, gallbladder storage and concentration between meals, CCK-triggered release and fat emulsification after a meal, terminal ileum reabsorption at roughly ninety-five percent efficiency, portal vein return to the liver, and the FXR-mediated negative feedback loop that adjusts synthesis rate based on how much bile acid returns.
Start a simulated meal to trigger CCK release and watch the gallbladder contract, releasing concentrated bile into the duodenum to emulsify fat. Advance through digestion to see bile acids travel to the terminal ileum, where most are reabsorbed and routed back to the liver through the portal vein. Toggle a bile acid sequestrant or simulate ileal resection to interrupt reabsorption, then observe how reduced FXR activation drives up CYP7A1 activity and cholesterol consumption as the liver compensates.
Controls let you trigger a meal (fat content adjustable) to initiate CCK release and gallbladder contraction, step through digestion and ileal reabsorption phases, toggle a bile acid sequestrant or simulate terminal ileum resection to block reabsorption, and view real-time indicators for CYP7A1 activity, FXR activation level, and cholesterol consumption rate.
The body's entire bile acid pool is only a few grams, yet because it can recycle several times during a single fatty meal, this small pool delivers far more total emulsifying capacity than its size alone would suggest, all thanks to the efficiency of the terminal ileum's dedicated reabsorption transporter.
The simulator demonstrates the complete enterohepatic circulation loop: hepatic synthesis of bile acids from cholesterol via CYP7A1, gallbladder storage and concentration between meals, CCK-triggered release and fat emulsification after a meal, terminal ileum reabsorption at roughly ninety-five percent efficiency, portal vein return to the liver, and the FXR-mediated negative feedback loop that adjusts synthesis rate based on how much bile acid returns.
The simulator demonstrates the complete enterohepatic circulation loop: hepatic synthesis of bile acids from cholesterol via CYP7A1, gallbladder storage and concentration between meals, CCK-triggered release and fat emulsification after a meal, terminal ileum reabsorption at roughly ninety-five percent efficiency, portal vein return to the liver, and the FXR-mediated negative feedback loop that adjusts synthesis rate based on how much bile acid returns.
Start a simulated meal to trigger CCK release and watch the gallbladder contract, releasing concentrated bile into the duodenum to emulsify fat. Advance through digestion to see bile acids travel to the terminal ileum, where most are reabsorbed and routed back to the liver through the portal vein. Toggle a bile acid sequestrant or simulate ileal resection to interrupt reabsorption, then observe how reduced FXR activation drives up CYP7A1 activity and cholesterol consumption as the liver compensates.
The body's entire bile acid pool is only a few grams, yet because it can recycle several times during a single fatty meal, this small pool delivers far more total emulsifying capacity than its size alone would suggest, all thanks to the efficiency of the terminal ileum's dedicated reabsorption transporter.