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Scanning electron microscopic and polarizing microscopic studies on the experimental formation of cholesterol crystals and gallstones in bile of the mouse fed with lithogenic diet

1976; Volume: 88; Issue: 5-6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.4044/joma1947.88.5-6_403

1882-4528

Yutaka NISHIE,

Diet, Metabolism, and Disease

Experimental cholesterol gallstones were induced in male mice fed a lithogenic diet (ground laboratory chow with 1% cholesterol and 0.5% cholic acid added).At several days intervals after feeding the lithogenic diet, the changes of the contents of bile were examined by a polarizing microscope and a scanning electron microscope, and the gallbladders by a light microscope and a transmission electron microscope.1) Several days after lithogenic diet, an increase of the volume of mucous secretion and an expansion of the gallbladder preceded the precipitation of cholesterol crystals. These facts suggest the homeostatic reaction to the chemical changes in bile composition of the mouse fed a lithogenic diet.2) The process of cholesterol stone formation in the bile of mouse was concluded as follows.a) A single cholesterol crystal was at first precipitated in the gallbladder bile supersaturated with cholesterol by the lithogenic diet.b) The precipitated crystals grew into clusters of many crystals which were formed by the process of new crystal growth by dislocation (i.e:, spiral growth on the surface of crystals), or by the coagulation of crystals by cohesive force. The spiral growth was demonstrated by a polarizing and a scanning electron microscopic observation on the surface of a large number of cholesterol crystals.c) Some crystals had irregularities in contour, which were due to partial dissolution of the crystals.d) Cholesterol clusters similar to balls grew in size and consistency by the thickening of crystals and the tree-like growth from the center to the outward.e) About 20 weeks after lithogenic diet, the surface of the clusters was filled with crystals or covered with billirubin and the other materials, and the clusters finally grew into complete stones which had quite similar structure as that of human cholesterol stones.f) The cavities often seen in the cholesterol stones were the vestige of bile, air and the other materials co-existed with cholesterol in the process of the formation of stones.3) Cholesterol crystals in the gallbladder were excreted through the cystic duct into the common bile duct. After cholecystectomy, no cholesterol crystals were observed in the common bile duct of the mice fed with lithogenic diet.