Contractility of maternal and fetal gallbladder: an ultrasonic study

The volumes of the maternal and fetal gallbladder were examined by ultrasound in a fasting condition during the last trimester of pregnancy in 25 cases and then monitored for 180 min after a standard peroral test meal or glucose administration. The ratio of maternal to fetal gallbladder fasting volumes corresponded to the ratio of the weights. A significant decrease in maternal gallbladder size was observed at 30, 60, and 120 min in both groups, but the changes in the volume of the fetal gallbladder were not significant. This latter observation points toward a resting condition and passive role for the gallbladder in the antenatal gastrointestinal physiology of the fetus.