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THE REACTION OF HUMAN BILE AND ITS RELATION TO GALL STONE FORMATION
1Biochemical Laboratory of the Philadelphia General Hospital, the Biochemical Department of the Graduate School of Medicine, and the Department of Surgery (Division C), University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
The Journal of Experimental Medicine
|October 30, 2009
Summary
The human gall bladder acidifies bile, a function also observed in lower animals. Bile acidity significantly increases with duct obstruction, but gallstone presence does not consistently alter this acidity.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Biliary Physiology
Background:
- The human gall bladder plays a role in modifying bile composition.
- Previous research indicated gall bladders in lower animals acidify bile.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of the human gall bladder in bile acidification.
- To determine the effect of duct obstruction and gallstones on bile hydrogen ion concentration.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of human gall bladder bile.
- Measurement of hydrogen ion concentration in bile samples.
- Comparison of bile acidity in cases of duct obstruction and gallstone presence.
Main Results:
- Human gall bladder bile is acidified, similar to findings in lower animals.
- Hydrogen ion concentration of gall bladder bile significantly increases with common or cystic duct obstruction.
- Complete obstruction correlates with the highest hydrogen ion concentration.
- No consistent change in gall bladder bile hydrogen ion concentration was observed in the presence of gallstones.
Conclusions:
- The human gall bladder actively acidifies bile.
- Bile acidification is exacerbated by biliary tract obstruction.
- Gallstone formation is not directly linked to altered gall bladder bile acidity.
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