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Updated: Jun 18, 2026
08:15
Gastrointestinal Motility Monitor (GIMM)
Published on: December 2, 2010
Intrinsic nerves affect gallbladder contraction in the guinea pig
E A Brotschi1, J Pattavino, L F Williams
1Department of Surgery, Boston Veterans Administration Medical Center, Massachusetts.
Gastroenterology
|September 1, 1990
Summary
Cholecystokinin (CCK) triggers gallbladder contraction via direct muscle or nerve stimulation. Combined neural and muscular CCK stimulation is most potent, highlighting the gallbladder
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Pharmacology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Muscarinic antagonists inhibit in vivo gallbladder contraction by cholecystokinin (CCK).
- Limited effect of muscarinic antagonists on isolated gallbladder muscle strips suggests neural involvement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of neural blockade on CCK-octapeptide-induced gallbladder contraction in vitro.
- To determine the role of CCK acting on serosal, luminal, or both gallbladder compartments.
Main Methods:
- Intact guinea pig gallbladders were studied in vitro.
- CCK-octapeptide was applied to the gallbladder serosa, lumen, or both.
- Neural blockade was assessed using atropine and tetrodotoxin.
Main Results:
- Simultaneous CCK stimulation of lumen and serosa was the most potent contractile stimulus.
- Responses to combined stimulation were significantly inhibited by atropine and tetrodotoxin.
- Luminal CCK alone induced dose-dependent contraction, fully blocked by atropine or tetrodotoxin.
- Serosal CCK induced weaker contraction, with minimal sensitivity to neural blockers.
Conclusions:
- CCK induces gallbladder contraction through direct muscle, neural, or combined receptor stimulation.
- Combined neural and muscular CCK stimulation represents the most potent contractile pathway.
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