Abstract
Although it is generally assumed that release of cholecystokinin (CCK) is the chief mechanism by which a fatty meal causes contraction of the gallbladder, measured release of CCK and gallbladder contraction have never been correlated. We have achieved this correlation in eight adult male volunteers, by means of a specific radioimmunoassay for CCK and by ultrasonographic imaging of the gallbladder. This study validates our CCK radioimmunoassay and correlates measured concentrations of CCK with changes in gallbladder size measured by ultrasonographic examination. Basal concentrations of CCK (82.6 +/- 10.4 pg/ml) rose significantly to a maximum of 411.1 +/- 79.9 pg/ml at 16 minutes after intraduodenal instillation of medium-chain triglyceride (Lipomul). Mean basal volume of the gallbladder was 34.6 cm3; maximum reduction of gallbladder volume (to one-third of original) was achieved at 18 minutes. Elevated CCK concentrations began to fall toward basal, and the gallbladder began to refill at 25 minutes. Results obtained after oral ingestion of Lipomul provide similar results. Linear regression analysis demonstrated excellent correlation between concentrations of CCK and gallbladder size during both contraction and relaxation phases. Future study of this correlation may be useful in patients with manifest dysfunction of the gallbladder, as well as in individuals known to be at risk of gallbladder disease.
Full text
PDF
Images in this article
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Braverman D. Z., Johnson M. L., Kern F., Jr Effects of pregnancy and contraceptive steroids on gallbladder function. N Engl J Med. 1980 Feb 14;302(7):362–364. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198002143020702. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- EDHOLM P. Gallbladder evacuation in the normal male induced by cholecystokinin. Acta radiol. 1960 Apr;53:257–265. doi: 10.3109/00016926009171672. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Jansson R. Effects of gastrointestinal hormones on concentrating function and motility in the gallbaldder. An experimental study in the cat. Acta Physiol Scand Suppl. 1978;456:1–38. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lonovics J., Devitt P., Rayford P. L., Thompson J. C. Actions of VIP, somatostatin, and pancreatic polypeptide on gallbladder tension and CCK-stimulated gallbladder contraction in vitro. Surg Forum. 1979;30:407–409. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lonovics J., Guzman S., Devitt P., Hejtmancik K. E., Suddith R. L., Rayford P. L., Thompson J. C. Release of pancreatic polypeptide in humans by infusion of cholecystokinin. Gastroenterology. 1980 Nov;79(5 Pt 1):817–822. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Miyata M., Rayford P. L., Thompson J. C. Hormonal (gastrin, secretin, cholecystokinin) and secretory effects of bombesin and duodenal acidification in dogs. Surgery. 1980 Feb;87(2):209–215. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Park C. Y., Pae Y. S., Hong S. S. Radiological studies on emptying of human gallbladder. Ann Surg. 1970 Feb;171(2):294–299. doi: 10.1097/00000658-197002000-00019. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sacchetti G., Mandelli V., Roncoroni L., Montanari C. Influence of age and sex on gallbladder emptying induced by a fatty meal in normal subjects. Am J Roentgenol Radium Ther Nucl Med. 1973 Sep;119(1):40–45. doi: 10.2214/ajr.119.1.40. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Ylötalo P., Kirkinen P., Heikkinen J., Mäentausta O. Gallbladder volume in cholestasis of pregnancy. N Engl J Med. 1981 Feb 5;304(6):359–359. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198102053040615. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]