Sex steroid induction of gallstones in the male Syrian hamster.

Sex steroid induction of gallstones in the male Syrian hamster.

Gilloteaux J; Kosek E; Kelly T R

Journal of submicroscopic cytology and pathology

1993

1993-04

Light (LM), transmission (TEM) and scanning (SEM) electron microscopic techniques were used to characterize morphologic changes induced in the gallbladder of Syrian hamsters following a one-month estradiol (E) and estradiol + medroxyprogesterone (E+MP) treatment. The TEM results were correlated with the SEM findings. Compared to control (C), E-treated surface epithelial cells contain abundant RER, enlarged Golgi, multivesicular (foamy-heterophagosomes) bodies or lipofuscin inclusions. A 10-day E treatment showed large vesicles develop and, after longer E treatment, they could coalesce and create some of the large multivesicular bodies. Interestingly, E+MP epithelia are characterized by distinct bulging apices where a large number of apical granules accumulate, and contain an anionic mucous core. After a 4-week E+MP treatment, even though all the hamsters were fed a diet with trace cholesterol, significant increase in hamster liver weight, serum level of cholesterol and HDL were measured and, correspondingly, gallstones were found exclusively in E+MP-treated hamsters. Our results showed that not only does the Syrian hamster provide an appropriate model to study experimental lithogenesis without manipulating the diet. In addition, MP appears to induce morphologic changes associated with the formation of gallstones.

Male; Animals; Body Weight; Organ Size; Cricetinae; Drug Combinations; Estradiol/*pharmacology; Mesocricetus; Medroxyprogesterone/*pharmacology; Cholelithiasis/*etiology; Endoplasmic Reticulum/drug effects/ultrastructure; Gallbladder/*drug effects/ultrastructure; Golgi Apparatus/drug effects/ultrastructure; Animal; Disease Models

Article information provided for research and reference use only. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).

157–172

2

25