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World J Gastroenterol. Aug 28, 2007; 13(32): 4336-4339
Published online Aug 28, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i32.4336
Effects of long term hydrophilic bile acid therapy on in vitro contraction of gallbladder muscle strips in patients with cholesterol gallstones
Mehmet Refik Mas, Bilgin Comert, Nuket Mas, Levent Yamanel, Haluk Ozotuk, Ilker Tasci, Riadh P Jazrawi
Mehmet Refik Mas, Bilgin Comert, Levent Yamanel, Haluk Ozotuk, Ilker Tasci, Department of Internal Medicine, Gülhane School of Medicine, Ankara 06018, Turkey
Nuket Mas, Department of Anatomy, Baskent University, Ankara, Turkey
Riadh P Jazrawi, Charterhouse Clinical Research Unit, Ravenscourt Park Hospital, Ravenscourt Park, London W6 0TN, United Kingdom
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Mehmet Refik Mas, Department of Internal Medicine, Gülhane School of Medicine, GATA Ic Hasta-liklari B.D., Etlik 06018 Ankara, Turkey. itasci@gata.edu.tr
Telephone: +90-312-3044018 Fax: +90-312-3044000
Received: December 22, 2006
Revised: February 23, 2007
Accepted: March 1, 2007
Published online: August 28, 2007
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) therapy on the in vitro contraction of gallbladder smooth muscle strips from cholesterol gallstone patients.

METHODS: The contraction forces of gallbladder smooth muscle strips from 28 patients with cholesterol gallstones treated with UDCA were compared with contraction forces from 14 untreated patients. The strips were stimulated with increasing concentrations of cholecystokinin-8 (CCK-8).

RESULTS: Although the contraction forces that developed in response to CCK-8 were higher in strips from specimens of UDCA treated patients compared to untreated patients, longer treatment periods (6-wk) caused more contraction responses than the short treatment period of 3-wk (F = 19.297, 1.85 ± 0.22 g vs 1.70 ± 0.10 g, P < 0.01). Contraction forces developed with maximal stimulation with KCl in the 6-wk treatment group were also higher than contraction forces in the untreated group (F = 4.274, 3.77 ± 0.45 g vs 3.30 ± 0.30 g, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Six-week UDCA treatment caused an increase in contractions of muscle strips from patients with cholesterol gallstones when compared to shorter treatment administration or controls. We suggest that extending UDCA treatment periods may cause more effective contractions in the gallbladder, and thereby increase the rate of response to treatment.

Keywords: Ursodeoxycholic acid; Hydrophilic bile acid; Gallbladder; Cholesterol gallstone