Can pigment gallstones be induced by biliary stricture and prevented by medicine in Guinea pigs?
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relationship between biliary stricture and pigment gallstone formation, and the prevention of pigment gallstones with medicine.


METHODS
One hundred and eighteen male guinea pigs were randomly divided into four groups: stricture group (S, n = 30) underwent partial ligation of common bile duct, and fed on regular chow; S plus medicine group (S+M, n = 27) underwent the same operation but fed on medicinal chow (0.3 g chenodeoxycholic acid, 0.5 g glucurolactone, and 0.5 g aspirin were mixed up in 1.2 kg regular chow); medicinal control group (C+M, n = 30) was free of operation, and fed on medicinal chow; and control group (C, n = 31) was free of operation and fed on regular chow. One week later, laparotomy was performed, and the bile of gallbladder was collected, measured, and cultured.


RESULTS
Gallstones were identified. Pigment gallstones were induced by biliary stricture in 95% (22/23) of S group. In the S+M group, the incidence of gallstone was reduced to 55% (11/20, vs S group, P < 0.01). The changes of indirect bilirubin and ionized calcium in the bile were consistent with gallstone incidences.


CONCLUSIONS
Biliary stricture can cause pigment gallstone formation in guinea pigs, and the medicines used can lower the incidence of gallstones. The bilirubin and ionized calcium play important roles in pigment gallstone formation.
Xu
Zhi
Z
Department of Surgery, Third Hospital of Peking University, 49 North Garden Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100083, China. xuzhi123456@sohu.com
Ling
Xiao-Feng
XF
Zhang
Wan-Hua
WH
Zhou
Xiao-Si
XS
D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000502:physiology; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology; D002635:Chenodeoxycholic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003135:Common Bile Duct / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D042882:Gallstones / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008026:Ligation / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D010858:Pigmentation; D011897:Random Allocation; D015996:Survival Rate
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D002635:Chenodeoxycholic Acid; D001241:Aspirin; D001663:Bilirubin; D002118:Calcium