1994 Volume 8 Issue 4 Pages 329-335
To evaluate the role of acidic mucin in gallbladder bile in gallstone formation, human gallbladder bile was analyzed in 40 cases (36: cholecystolithiasis,4: control).
Furthermore, gallstones and mucin in whole gallbladde r were studied histochemically in 15lithogenic diet-fed mice (experimental group) and 5 pair-fed mice.
Total hexosamine content in aseptic gallbladder biles was lower in cases with black stone, combination stone and calcium bilirubinate stone than in control. Mean acidic mucin fraction in aseptic gallbladder bile in cases of cholecystolithiasis was 72∼82%, which was 1.5∼2.0 times higher than control. Total amount of acidic mucin calculated by hexosamine contents and acidic mucin fraction was higher in cases of cholecystolithiasis.
By histochemical staining, acidic muc in was observed along both gallbladder wall and gallstones as well as inside of gallstones only in experimental group.
These results suggest that high amount of acidic mucin in gallbladder may play a role in formation of gallstone in the gallbladder.
