Addition of Cholesterol to Hepatic Bile Subjected to Gallbladder Influence.

Abstract

To study the influence, if any, of the gallbladder on the cholesterol content of bile, a series of experiments were performed in which a “partitioning ligature” was so placed 1 that 2 portions of the liver were drained into separate rubber balloons through intubation of the common duct. One part of the bile flowed directly from the liver, whereas the other part was subjected to gallbladder influence, before flowing into the collecting bag. This device was first used by Rous and McMaster 1 in their classic studies on the concentrating activities of the gallbladder.

Dog. I, weight 12 kg., under ether anesthesia a ligature was placed around the common duct just proximal to 2 hepatic ducts which were then made to drain directly into a rubber balloon intubated at the termination of the choledochus. A second balloon was connected with the common duct proximal to the ligature. This drained the rest of the liver, including the gallbladder which, however, was first completely emptied. The abdomen was closed in layers and the bags left therein. Five days later the dog, in excellent condition, was killed with chloroform. The upper bag (in connection with the gallbladder) contained 105 cc. of cloudy infected bile and was found to have drained 90 gm. of liver. The lower bag (from the liver directly) contained 205 cc. of clear bile and had drained 225 gm. of liver. Bilirubin comparisons to evaluate the degree of concentration by the gallbladder could not be accurately made because of the presence of infection in one of the specimens. Comparison of the cholesterol content revealed striking differences.