Production of bile duct hyperplasia and gallstones by lithocholic acid.

Abstract

The oral administration of 1% lithocholic acid in a low protein diet consistently produced bile duct proliferation and common duct gallstones in rats. The proliferation was fully developed after 5 days of lithocholic acid administration, did not increase with long term feeding, and was independent of gallstone formation. The gallstones resulted from precipitation of the Ca salts of free and glycine-conjugated lithocholic acid and its 6/3-hydroxy derivative. The stones could be prevented by increasing the dietary content of sulfur-containing amino acids and thus enhancing bile acid conjugation with taurine. The consistent production of choledocholithiasis in rats, as described in these studies, provides a new experimental method for studying gallstone formation.