Oxygen radicals stimulate guinea pig gallbladder glycoprotein secretion in vitro

In several animal models of cholelithiasis, and in humans with gallstones, hypersecretion of gallbladder mucin is observed. This study was undertaken to determine the effect of oxygen radicals on guinea pig gallbladder glycoprotein secretion in organ culture. Mucosal explants were incubated with [3H]glucosamine hydrochloride to label glycoproteins, then exposed to oxygen radicals generated by chelated ferric iron and ascorbic acid. Marked stimulation of glycoprotein release was observed after a 30-min exposure to the oxygen radical-generating system, and the effect was inhibited by mannitol. The stimulatory effect of hydroxyl radical was not accompanied by leakage of intracellular lactate dehydrogenase. Parallel experiments with human granulocytes activated with f-Met-Leu-Phe and coincubated with gallbladder explants revealed similar results. These results indicate that oxygen radicals, especially the hydroxyl radical (OH.), are capable of stimulating rapid release of mucous-type glycoproteins from gallbladder epithelium.