Abstract
To evaluate the role of gallbladder in gallstone formation, the cell proliferative activity of the gallbladder epithelium in patients with cholelithiasis was analyzed in 84 calculus cases and 39 acalculus cases. Immunostaining of the specimens was performed by the LSAB method using parafin-embedded blocks and the PCNA antibody. The PCNA. labeling index in gallbladder epithelial cell was calculated. The results of the comparative analysis showed that the PCNA labeling index was significantly higher in calculus patients than in acalculus subjects (p<0.01). The patients with pure cholesterol stones were significantly higher in the PCNA labeling index than those with black stones (p<0.05). The patients with mixed and combination stones were also significantly higher in the PCNA labeling index than those with black stones (p<0.05). Any type of gallstones except black stones, were significantly higher in the PCNA labeling index than those with acalculus (p<0.05). The cell proliferative activity of the gallbladder epithelium in patients with cholecystolithiasis was found to be significantly increased. Our findings suggest that the gallbladder may contribute to the formation and growth of gallstones.
