Biomaterial Database

The role of the gallbladder in the pathogenesis of cholesterol gallstones. 1979

W W LaMorte, and D J Schoetz, and D H Birkett, and L F Williams

During the past century, a variety of explanations have been proposed to explain the pathogenesis of cholesterol gallstones. Early attempts to account for the phenomenon of cholelithiasis focused on events in the gallbladder and stressed mucosal inflammatory changes, gallbladder stasis, stratification of bile, and absorption of bile salts from a damaged mucosa. The advent of the concept of "lithogenic bile" redirected attention to the liver and led to the proposal that an enzyme-mediated genetic and/or metabolic defect is the initiator of cholesterol cholelithiasis. While recognizing that the pathogenesis of gallstones is probably multifactorial, alterations in gallbladder and biliary ductal motor function constitute a plausible, but as yet unexplored, mechanism for alterations in enterohepatic circulation dynamics and subsequent cholesterol cholelithiasis. Gallbladder motor function is a complex phenomenon influenced by dynamic compliance, autonomic pharmacology, hormonal responses, and sphincter dynamics. Attempts to describe these aspects of biliary physiology may characterize the next phase in our understanding of the pathogenesis of cholesterol cholelithiasis.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
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
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
D005705	Gallbladder Diseases	Diseases of the GALLBLADDER. They generally involve the impairment of BILE flow, GALLSTONES in the BILIARY TRACT, infections, neoplasms, or other diseases.	Gall Bladder Diseases,Bladder Disease, Gall,Bladder Diseases, Gall,Disease, Gall Bladder,Disease, Gallbladder,Diseases, Gall Bladder,Diseases, Gallbladder,Gall Bladder Disease,Gallbladder Disease
D001647	Bile Acids and Salts	Steroid acids and salts. The primary bile acids are derived from cholesterol in the liver and usually conjugated with glycine or taurine. The secondary bile acids are further modified by bacteria in the intestine. They play an important role in the digestion and absorption of fat. They have also been used pharmacologically, especially in the treatment of gallstones.	Bile Acid,Bile Salt,Bile Salts,Bile Acids,Acid, Bile,Acids, Bile,Salt, Bile,Salts, Bile