DNA synthesis index: higher for human gallbladders with cholesterol gallstones than with pigment gallstones

[3H]dThd uptake by the gallbladder epithelium was estimated in 33 patients with cholesterol stones, in 13 patients with pigment stones, and in 12 gallbladders without stones. Proliferative parameters were estimated by autoradiography after in vitro incubation with [3H]-dThd. Stones were identified by quantitative infrared spectroscopy. The degree of inflammation of the gallbladder wall was estimated by a histologic scoring method. In the gallbladders containing cholesterol stones the DNA synthesis index (1.39 +/- 0.28%) was higher (P less than .01) than in the gallbladders without stones (0.19 +/- 0.04%). No significant increase in proliferative parameters was found in the gallbladders with pigment stones (0.24 +/- 0.06%). No correlation was found between total stone number, weight or volume, and the DNA synthesis index. No evidence was observed that inflammation could influence the epithelial cell proliferation. Something in the bile of patients with cholesterol stones rather than the physical presence of stones may be the cause of the variations observed.