[Mucus histochemical study of bilirubin cholangiolithiasis in rabbit model]

Sulfated mucopolysaccharides have an important role in pigment gallstone formation. In this experiment, the animal model of bilirubin cholangiolithiasis was made with Japanese hybrid big-ear white rabbits. The source, nature, quantity and distribution of sulfated mucopolysaccharides in the cause of bilirubin cholangiolithiasis were observed by means of mucous histochemical study. There were three characteristic pathologic changes observed in this experiment: 1. In normal condition, the sulfated mucopolysaccharides were secreted by epithelium of biliary tracts and the quantity was minimum. When bacterial infection was present in the biliary tracts, they were secreted mainly by the proliferative glands in submucosa of the bile duct; 2. In 26 rabbits where the bilirubin cholangiolithiasis developed, there were many proliferative glands in submucosa of the bile duct. Most of the glands produced sulfonated acid mucin. In 5 rabbits where the gallstones did not develop in the stone growing stage, the proliferative glands were not present in the bile duct. It was suggested that there was a close relationship between the proliferative glands and the formation of bilirubin cholangiolithiasis, and 3. The glands in submucosa of the biliary tract provided the refuge where the bacteria could not be cleaned out easily and so it was difficult to control the infection of the biliary tract.