Biomaterial Database

Pigment gallstone formation and altered ion transport. 1989

S D Strichartz, and M Z Abedin, and E K Safarian, and J J Roslyn

Department of Surgical and Research Services, Sepulveda Veterans Administration Medical Center, California.

Feeding corn and alfalfa to young prairie dogs resulted in formation of gallstones composed of 45 percent cholesterol, 30 percent bile pigments, and 25 percent calcium bilirubinate in half of the animals. This diet also resulted in increased gallbladder bile concentrations of calcium, phospholipids, and cholesterol. Although the cholesterol saturation index was significantly increased compared with control subjects, it remained less than 1. In addition to the changes in biliary lipid composition, the corn and alfalfa-fed animals had significantly decreased transepithelial potential difference and short-circuit current when compared with control animals. These are changes in gallbladder mucosal function similar to those that have been reported in humans with gallstones. This model may therefore prove to be of great value in studying the pathogenesis of noncholesterol gallstones.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D010743	Phospholipids	Lipids containing one or more phosphate groups, particularly those derived from either glycerol (phosphoglycerides see GLYCEROPHOSPHOLIPIDS) or sphingosine (SPHINGOLIPIDS). They are polar lipids that are of great importance for the structure and function of cell membranes and are the most abundant of membrane lipids, although not stored in large amounts in the system.	Phosphatides,Phospholipid
D002118	Calcium	A basic element found in nearly all tissues. It is a member of the alkaline earth family of metals with the atomic symbol Ca, atomic number 20, and atomic weight 40. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and combines with phosphorus to form calcium phosphate in the bones and teeth. It is essential for the normal functioning of nerves and muscles and plays a role in blood coagulation (as factor IV) and in many enzymatic processes.	Coagulation Factor IV,Factor IV,Blood Coagulation Factor IV,Calcium-40,Calcium 40,Factor IV, Coagulation
D002769	Cholelithiasis	Presence or formation of GALLSTONES in the BILIARY TRACT, usually in the gallbladder (CHOLECYSTOLITHIASIS) or the common bile duct (CHOLEDOCHOLITHIASIS).	Gallstone Disease,Cholelithiases,Gallstone Diseases
D002784	Cholesterol	The principal sterol of all higher animals, distributed in body tissues, especially the brain and spinal cord, and in animal fats and oils.	Epicholesterol
D003313	Zea mays	A plant species of the family POACEAE. It is a tall grass grown for its EDIBLE GRAIN, corn, used as food and animal FODDER.	Corn,Indian Corn,Maize,Teosinte,Zea,Corn, Indian
D004195	Disease Models, Animal	Naturally-occurring or experimentally-induced animal diseases with pathological processes analogous to human diseases.	Animal Disease Model,Animal Disease Models,Disease Model, Animal
D004594	Electrophysiology	The study of the generation and behavior of electrical charges in living organisms particularly the nervous system and the effects of electricity on living organisms.
D005704	Gallbladder	A storage reservoir for BILE secretion. Gallbladder allows the delivery of bile acids at a high concentration and in a controlled manner, via the CYSTIC DUCT to the DUODENUM, for degradation of dietary lipid.	Gallbladders
D000455	Medicago sativa	A plant species of the family FABACEAE widely cultivated for ANIMAL FEED.	Alfalfa,Lucerne