The effect of alcohol on acid secretion by the bovine gall bladder in vitro.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether acid secretion by gall bladder mucosa is influenced by alcohol and whether hydrogen ion output is increased when the gall bladder is perfused with moderate concentrations of alcohol.


METHODS
Fifty bovine gall bladders were studied. Twenty-five served as controls and 25 were perfused (in groups of five) with varying concentrations of alcohol (w/v): 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5 and 1.0%. Acid output was measured over 1 h and the results expressed as the mean.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference between acid production by control gall bladders and those perfused with 0.05% alcohol (24.30 +/- 8.7 versus 18.95 x 8.41 nmol/h), but the acid output was significantly increased when the mucosa was exposed to 0.1 and 0.2% alcohol concentrations (50.28 +/- 10.2 and 29.34 +/- 9.1 nmol/h; P < 0.001 and P < 0.0004, respectively). Perfusion with alcohol concentrations of 0.5 and 1.0%, significantly inhibited mucosal acid output (2.60 +/- 2.0 and -1.70 +/- 1.2 nmol/h; P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0001, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that perfusion of bovine gall bladder mucosa in vitro with moderate concentrations of alcohol stimulates acid output. This observation is important for assessing the link between alcohol and the risk of gallstone formation.
Hussain
I
I
Department of Medicine, Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, UK.
Plevris
J N
JN
Hayes
P C
PC
Bouchier
I A
IA
D000143:Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D000143:Acids; D000431:Ethanol; D006859:Hydrogen