Effects of long term hydrophilic bile acid therapy on in vitro contraction of gallbladder muscle strips in patients with cholesterol gallstones.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) therapy on the in vitro contraction of gallbladder smooth muscle strips from cholesterol gallstone patients.


METHODS
The contraction forces of gallbladder smooth muscle strips from 28 patients with cholesterol gallstones treated with UDCA were compared with contraction forces from 14 untreated patients. The strips were stimulated with increasing concentrations of cholecystokinin-8 (CCK-8).


RESULTS
Although the contraction forces that developed in response to CCK-8 were higher in strips from specimens of UDCA treated patients compared to untreated patients, longer treatment periods (6-wk) caused more contraction responses than the short treatment period of 3-wk (F = 19.297, 1.85 +/- 0.22 g vs 1.70 +/- 0.10 g, P < 0.01). Contraction forces developed with maximal stimulation with KCl in the 6-wk treatment group were also higher than contraction forces in the untreated group (F = 4.274, 3.77 +/- 0.45 g vs 3.30 +/- 0.30 g, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Six-week UDCA treatment caused an increase in contractions of muscle strips from patients with cholesterol gallstones when compared to shorter treatment administration or controls. We suggest that extending UDCA treatment periods may cause more effective contractions in the gallbladder, and thereby increase the rate of response to treatment.
Mas
Mehmet-Refik
MR
Department of Internal Medicine, Gülhane School of Medicine, GATA Ic Hasta-liklari B.D., Etlik 06018 Ankara, Turkey.
Comert
Bilgin
B
Mas
Nuket
N
Yamanel
Levent
L
Ozotuk
Haluk
H
Tasci
Ilker
I
Jazrawi
Riadh-P
RP
D000368:Aged; D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002763:Cholecystectomy; D002784:Cholesterol; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D042882:Gallstones / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012844:Sincalide / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid; D002784:Cholesterol; D012844:Sincalide
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