THE INFLUENCE OF PREGNANCY AND SEX HORMONES ON GALL BLADDER MOTILITY IN THE GUINEA PIG

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Abstract
[longdash]Intraven. inj. of 0.5 mg. cholecystokinin produced prompt and efficient emptying of the non-pregnant guinea pig gall bladder as tested in 18 animals, but a delayed and less effective emptying of the gall bladder of 16 pregnant animals. In in vitro expts., the response of the isolated gall bladder of 25 non-pregnant, 26 pregnant, 10 castrate, 10 estradiol-injected and 10 progesterone-injected animals was tested to a standard dose of cholecystokinin. The response was measured in cm. of intra-gall bladder pressure. In the pregnant, castrate, and both hormone-injected groups, the mean values indicated a somewhat diminished response of the gall bladder compared with the non-pregnant control groups. This diminution of response was most marked and statistically significant only in the case of the estradiol-injected animals. The mean value of the mechanical resistance of the choledocho-duodenal mechanism in 12 pregnant animals was slightly greater than that in 12 non-pregnant animals. The difference was not statistically significant. While it is entirely possible that in the intact pregnant guinea pig these apparently small differences in gall bladder muscle response and in sphincteric resistance may be important and may be able to account for the impaired emptying, the results suggest that another factor is involved, namely the partial inactivation of cholecystokinin in transport.

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