The gallbladder is known to have the function of the storage and the concentration of the bile produced by the liver. This function is carried out by the removal of water and inorganic electrolytes. Extrahepatic cholestasis or the impairment of excretion of the bile leads to the distension and loss of the function of the gallbladder.
The purpose of this study was to examine the ultrastructural characteristics of the normal gallbladder epithelial cells, and their structural changes induced by the ligation of common bile duct of the rabbit.
Common bile duct ligation was performed under ether anesthesia. The rabbits were sacrificed on the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 14th day, respectively after operations. The tissue blocks of the gallbladder were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde-1.5% paraformaldehyde prior to fixation in 1% osmium tetroxide, and embedded in the araldite mixture, and observed with JEM 100 CX -II electron microscope.
The results were as follows:
1. The normal gallbladder epithelium of adult rabbit demonstrated two cell types, the ordinary epthelial cell and the dark cell. The dark cells have electron dense cytoplasm, and were found much infrequently, whereas ordinary epthelial cells were found quite numerous.
2. The ordinary epthelial cells of normal gallbladder were provided with the regular microvilli at the free surface and the images of pinocytotic activities in the apical cytoplasm,
and exhibit highly convoluted lateral surfaces with elaborated microfolds. These figures of the cells suggest that they are resorptive in functional activity.
3. In the early stages (1st, 3rd, 5th day groups) following the ligation, the apical cytoplasm of some cells is protruding from the free surface and lost their microvilli. Numerous mucous granules filled in the apical and supranuclear cytoplasm compactly.
4. In the late stages (7th, 14th day groups) following the ligation, many light cells containing mumerous mucous granules are seen, between the ordinary epthelial cells. Mucous granules are fused each other, and are discharged into the lumen from the apical cytoplasm. The lateral membranes are straight or undulating without any interdigitations.
From the above results, it was concluded that in the cholestasis induced by the common bile duct ligation, there is a tendency for the mucosal epithelium of the rabbit gallbladder to have secretory rather than an absorptive function.
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