Case Report: The Gallbladder also Secretes

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Abstract
Classical physiology regards the gallbladder as an absorptive epithelium. The gallbladder epithelium has one of the highest rates and capacities to absorb water among all gastrointestinal epithelia studied (1). This is effected through active sodium transport coupled with passive water absorption. Chloride is exchanged with bicarbonate. The movements of electrolytes and the effects of Donnan equilibrium forces have been extensively studied (2). There is increasing evidence that the gallbladder mucosa may also modify bile by its secretory function. For example, the secretion of mucin, immunoglobulin, as well as hydrogen ion by the gallbladder epithelium (3± 5) has been documented. We have recently suggested that the postprandial human gallbladder can secrete a color