Animal models of calcium cholelithiasis.

Abstract

Bile contains four calcium anions which are readily precipitated by calcium: bilirubinate, "palmitate", carbonate and phosphate. Precipitation of insoluble calcium salts is common in calculous biliary disease. All animal models of calcium cholelithiasis probably share a common pathogenesis--an increased concentration of a calcium-sensitive anion. In calcium bilirubinate cholelithiasis, an increased concentration of bilirubinate occurs. In mice, this occurs in animals having a genetic hemolytic anemia; in rats, it may be induced by an essential fatty acid in combination with diet modification; in dogs, by a low-taurine, low-protein diet; and in prairie dogs, by ileal resection which probably increases the bilirubinate/bile acid ratio in bile. In the two models of calcium-bile acid cholelithiasis, an increased biliary concentration of a calcium-sensitive glycine conjugated bile acid is induced by administration of a suitable precursor. In the rabbit, gallstones composed mostly of calcium allodeoxycholyl glycine are induced by the feeding of 5 beta-cholestan-3 beta-ol. In the taurine-deficient rat, the feeding of lithocholate leads to formation of gallstones which contain a mixture of calcium lithocholyl glycine and 3 alpha, 6 beta-dihydroxy cholanoyl glycine. These animal models may be of value in testing agents designed to lower calcium activity in bile.

• Authors: A F Hofmann
• Journal: Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.) (Hepatology) 1984 Sep-Oct Vol. 4 Issue 5 Suppl Pg. 209S-211S ISSN: 0270-9139 [Print] United States
• PMID: 6479879 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Bile Acids and Salts
• Lithocholic Acid
• Bilirubin
• Calcium

Topics

• Animals
• Bile Acids and Salts (metabolism)
• Bilirubin (metabolism)
• Calcium (metabolism)
• Cholelithiasis (etiology)
• Cricetinae
• Disease Models, Animal
• Lithocholic Acid (metabolism)
• Mice
• Rabbits
• Sciuridae