Biomaterial Database

Altered gallbladder concentration of biliary lipids during early cholesterol gallstone formation. 1987

J J Roslyn, and R L Conter, and L DenBesten

Whether gallbladder absorptive function is altered during formation of cholesterol gallstones is unclear. We tested the hypothesis that alterations in biliary lipid composition present during early cholesterol gallstone formation enhance gallbladder absorption, as manifested by an increase in the ratio of gallbladder to hepatic bile lipid concentrations. Prairie dogs received either control or a 0.4% cholesterol-enriched chow for two or six weeks. The bile acid pool of each animal was labeled with [14C]cholic acid. Gallbladder and hepatic bile were analyzed for lipid composition with calculation of indices for cholesterol saturation, gallbladder stasis, and gallbladder absorption. Animals maintained on cholesterol-enriched chow for two weeks had a significant increase, as compared to controls, in the ratio of gallbladder to hepatic bile concentrations of cholesterol (8.66 +/- 1.09 vs 5.76 +/- 0.48), phospholipids (4.76 +/- 0.42 vs 3.21 +/- 0.34), bile acids (6.42 +/- 2.20 vs 3.54 +/- 0.46), and total lipid content (6.22 +/- 0.94 vs 3.64 +/- 0.43). These changes occurred at a time when gallbladder stasis is present and cholesterol crystals are forming, but prior to stone formation. Similar findings were noted in six-week cholesterol-fed prairie dogs. We propose the uniformly increased ratios of biliary lipids result from enhanced gallbladder absorption of water and sodium. The resulting increase in solute concentration may promote nucleation and, therefore, may be an important etiologic factor in cholesterol gallstone formation.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008099	Liver	A large lobed glandular organ in the abdomen of vertebrates that is responsible for detoxification, metabolism, synthesis and storage of various substances.	Livers
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
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
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
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
D000042	Absorption	The physical or physiological processes by which substances, tissue, cells, etc. take up or take in other substances or energy.
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001646	Bile	An emulsifying agent produced in the LIVER and secreted into the DUODENUM. Its composition includes BILE ACIDS AND SALTS; CHOLESTEROL; and ELECTROLYTES. It aids DIGESTION of fats in the duodenum.	Biliary Sludge,Sludge, Biliary