Observations on the Cause of Gall-Bladder Contraction and Evacuation.

Abstract

In a previous communication, 1 we have shown that purified extracts of the duodenal and jejunal mucosa when injected intravenously cause the gall-bladder to contract and to exert pressure on its contents, and at the same time excite the pancreas to secrete. Since that report, Kloster, Lueth and Ivy have made preparations for us, the use of which indicate that “secretin” dees not cause the gallbladder to contract, but that it is some substance closely associated with “secretin,” because it is possible to prepare a solution of “secretin” which is free of the gall-bladder excitant.

In more than 10 experiments in which the cystic duct was clamped and the gall-bladder cannulated under barbital anesthesia, we have observed the gall-bladder to contract when 20 or 30 cc. of N/10 HCl were introduced into the duodenum. The latent period of contraction was in most cases less than 2 minutes, whereas the latent period for the pancreatic response varied from 5 to 10 minutes. We have performed up to the present time, 4 cross-circulation experiments. The cross-circulation experiments were performed as follows: 2 “compatible” dogs were given barbital and placed on the table side by side; the pancreatic duct of each animal was cannulated; the cystic duct of each was clamped and the gall-bladder cannulated and attached to a manometer and recording tambour; the most lateral carotid of each animal was prepared for a blood pressure record, and the remaining or medial carotids were connected with cannulae for cross-circulation. In 3 out of 4 experiments the introduction of 40 cc. of N/10 HCl into the duodenum of the “first” dog caused the gall-bladder of the “second” dog to contract.