Possible relationship between intestinal barrier function and formation of pigment gallstones in hamsters

BACKGROUND: The presence of bacteria in bile is an important factor in the formation of pigment gallstones. The bile of healthy people is sterile and bacteria in the biliary system come from endogenous infection from the gut. Yet, the route of bacterial translocation into the bile duct is still unclear. Theoretically, two routes exist: one is through the intestinal barrier and the other is by direct reflux from the sphincter of Oddi. This study was undertaken to explore the relationship between the effectiveness of intestinal barrier and the formation of pigment gallstones in hamsters. METHODS: Thirty-two hamsters were divided into an experimental and a control group, with 16 hamsters in each group. A low protein and high cellulose diet was given for 6 weeks to induce the formation of pigment gallstones in the experimental group (PS) and a normal diet was given to the control group (CON). Morphological changes, changes in the levels of serum endotoxin and diamine oxidase, and changes in the numbers of B lymphocytes, plasma cells and secretory immunoglobin A (sIgA) in the intestinal mucosa were assessed after 6 weeks. RESULTS: Four hamsters died during lithogenesis and body weight decreased in the PS group. Pigment gallstones were found in 11 hamsters at the end of the experiment, giving a lithogenesis rate of 91.67%. The serum endotoxin level before and after gallstone formation in the PS group was 0.2960 +/- 0.1734 U/ml and 8.2964 +/- 4.6268 U/ml, respectively (P<0.05). The blood diamine oxidase level before and after gallstone formation in the PS group was 2.6333 +/- 0.8037 U/ml and 3.3642 +/- 0.9545 U/ml, respectively (P<0.05). The numbers of B lymphocytes, plasma cells and sIgA in the intestinal mucosa in the PS group were 71.56 +/- 2.89, 68.65 +/- 2.09 and 27.56 +/- 1.07, respectively, and were significantly decreased compared with the corresponding values in the CON group (94.25 +/- 3.69, 93.47 +/- 3.98 and 42.57 +/- 1.96, respectively, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A low protein and high cellulose diet can markedly reduce intestinal barrier function and facilitate the formation of pigment gallstones. The decrease of intestinal barrier function may take part in the formation of pigment gallstones.