Effect of hyocholic acid on the prevention and dissolution of biliary cholesterol crystals in mice.

Abstract

Gallstone prevention and dissolution were studied in a mouse model of cholesterol cholelithiasis using hyocholic acid (3 alpha, 6 alpha, 7 alpha-trihydroxy-5 beta-cholanic acid). Addition of hyocholic acid, 0.1 or 0.3%, in the lithogenic diet (1% cholesterol + 0.5% cholic acid) prevented the formation of cholesterol monohydrate crystals in 70 and 90% of cases, respectively. On the other hand, chow diet supplemented with 0.1 or 0.3% hyocholic acid dissolved cholesterol crystals in lithiasic mice in, respectively, 80 and 100% of cases within 12 days. In both protocols, biles were largely supersaturated with cholesterol; lecithin-cholesterol lamellar liquid crystals were responsible for the transport of the excess cholesterol content. The percentage of hydrophilic bile salts (hyocholic acid, hyodeoxycholic acid, beta-muricholic acid) in bile, although moderate (15-50% of total bile salts), appears to induce such liquid crystalline dispersion. This study demonstrates that the balance between hydrophilic and hydrophobic bile salts plays a major role in the prevention and dissolution of cholesterol crystals. It is also shown that the desaturation of biliary cholesterol is not a prerequisite for gallstone dissolution.

• Authors: J P Dusserre, A M Montet, J C Montet
• Journal: Canadian journal of physiology and pharmacology (Can J Physiol Pharmacol) Vol. 66 Issue 8 Pg. 1028-34 (Aug 1988) ISSN: 0008-4212 [Print] Canada
• PMID: 3179836 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Bile Acids and Salts
• Cholic Acids
• Lipids
• Micelles
• muricholic acid
• Cholesterol

Topics

• Animals
• Bile (analysis, drug effects)
• Bile Acids and Salts (analysis)
• Cholestasis (prevention & control)
• Cholesterol
• Cholic Acids (pharmacology)
• Crystallization
• Lipids (analysis)
• Mice
• Micelles