Contraction and Evacuation of Gall-Bladder Caused by Highly Purified “Secretin” Preparation.

Abstract

The numerous reports in the literature showing the marked efficacy of fats, egg yolk and protein in emptying the gall-bladder convinced us that the effect of “secretin” on the evacuation and motor activity of the gall-bladder should be studied, since it is well known that these substances stimulate the pancreas, and that “secretin” (very impure solutions) promotes the formation of bile.

For some time we (Kloster, Ivy and Lueth) have been working on the purification of “secretin”. Starting with the “new secretin” of Weaver, Luckhardt, and Koch, 1 we prepared solutions of such purity that from 1 to 3 mg. of dried material excites pancreatic secretion in 10 to 20 kilo dogs. These purified solutions of “secretin” have been used in this study. They are vaso-dilatin free, and have no objective deliterious effects when injected intravenously in anesthetized or unanesthetized animals.

One series of experiments were performed as follows: A cat was barbitalized, the pancreatic duct was cannulated, and a cannula was placed into the gall-bladder through a small opening in the fundus. On the injection of the purified “secretin” (2 mg.) the intra-gall-bladder pressure rises after a very brief latent period, sometimes before the needle is withdrawn and always before the pancreatic juice and bile begins to flow. Normal saline controls proved negative. The pressure begins to decline in from ½ to 1 hour after the injection.

To avoid the possibility that the increase in gall-bladder pressure was not due to an inflow of bile, we tied the cystic duct or cannulated the bile duct. In the experiments in which the cystic duct was tied, the gall-bladder pressure was increased, but not to the extent of the first series of experiments. This difference, we believe, was due to some interference with the blood supply of the gall-bladder, which is very difficult to avoid in the cat on ligating or clamping the cystic duct.