An animal model of black pigment gallstones caused by nanobacteria.

Abstract

Black pigment gallstones are often founded in gallbladder, but their pathogenesis is unclear. The present study was undertaken to study the role of nanobacteria in pigment gallstone formation in Japanese white rabbits. Nanobacteria were successfully cultured from 3 of 7 cholecystolithiasis patients gallbladder (without acute cholecystitis) bile samples and affirmed by Hoechst 33258 staining and specific immunostaining using monoclonal antibody. Nanobacteria were injected into rabbits' gallbladder. After 2 weeks follow-up, the incidence of black pigment gallstones in rabbits was significantly greater in nanobacteria-injected group (8/10) than that in DMEM-injected group (2/10) and that in hydroxyapatite-injected group (2/10). This study indicates that nanobacteria exists in gallbladder bile of cholelithiasis patients and causes the formation of black pigment gallstones in rabbits. For the first time, we successfully established an animal model of black pigment gallstones caused by nanobacteria. This will be helpful in further delineating the pathogenesis of black pigment gallstones.

• Authors: Limin Wang, Wenlv Shen, Jun Wen, Xin An, Liying Cao, Baoqiang Wang
• Journal: Digestive diseases and sciences (Dig Dis Sci) Vol. 51 Issue 6 Pg. 1126-32 (Jun 2006) ISSN: 0163-2116 [Print] United States
• PMID: 16865581 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Bile Pigments

Topics

• Animals
• Bacteria
• Bile Pigments
• Disease Models, Animal
• Gallstones (chemistry, microbiology, ultrastructure)
• Humans
• Male
• Rabbits