Mucopolysaccharides and Their Significance in Gallstone Formation

Abstract

CaCO3 gallstones and calculus-like concrements of CaCO3 experimentally produced were cut into thin serial sections by a resin-reinforcing technique. These specimens were then observed under polarized light, by contact micro-radiography or after various histochemical stainings. Human CaCO3 gallstone has a specific structure of its own, though it was considered until now to be an amorphous mass. In human CaCO3 gallstone, mucopolysaccharides were found evenly distributed, filling the spaces among CaCO3 crystals in reticular fasion. Histochemically, these mucopolysaccharides consisted mainly of sulfated mucopolysaccharides with some contamination of neutral or weakly acid mucopolysaccharides. The mucopolysaccharides in human CaCO3 gallstone are quite similar to sodium alginate in an artificial calculus in their way of distribution and arrangement in minute details. Mucopolysaccharides may take an important part through their bridging action in the formation of CaCO3 gallstones.