Abstract
Bile acids (BAs) serve as important signaling molecules and are endogenous ligands of nuclear and cell membrane receptors to regulate physiological and pathological processes. BA synthesis and metabolism have been impaired in NASH patients because of liver injury, inflammation or obstruction of bile ducts. On the other hand, the changes in BA composition might alter the activation status of various cell signaling pathways and contribute to NASH pathogenesis. Due to the rapidly increasing interests in the roles of individual BA in disease development, this chapter will focus on the method for analyzing individual BA profile in mouse biofluids and tissues by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with ion trap mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS).