CHOLESTEROL CHOLELITHIASIS IN THE PRAIRIE DOG - ROLE OF MUCIN AND NONMUCIN GLYCOPROTEINS

The aims of this study were to examine the effect of exogenous prostag landin on mucin secretion and to determine the role of nonmucin glycop roteins on gallstone formation in the prairie dog model of cholesterol cholelithiasis. The concentration of total glycoprotein and nonmucin glycoproteins was measured in gallbladder bile from four groups of pra irie dogs fed a control diet or a diet supplemented with 1.2% choleste rol with or without simultaneous subcutaneous administration of prosta glandin E1. Cholesterol feeding resulted in an increased concentration of concanavalin-A binding-proteins in gallbladder bile associated wit h an increase in pronucleating activity in vitro. Treatment with prost aglandin E1 and cholesterol feeding was associated with a significant increase in the incidence of cholesterol gallstone formation. Prostagl andin E1 treatment in the cholesterol-fed animals increased biliary co ncentrations of total glycoprotein and concanavalin-A-binding glycopro teins. Therefore the increased biliary glycoprotein level in cholester ol-fed, prostaglandin E1-treated prairie dogs, which reflects higher l evels of mucin and nonmucin glycoproteins, appears to be an important factor in gallstone formation.