Re:chronic gall bladder disease

January 15, 2008

Judy,

From the melatonin references in my CD!

Hope it helps,

Monika M. Woolsey

J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2007 Oct;323(1):138-46. Epub 2007 Jul 5. Links

Effects of melatonin on gallbladder neuromuscular function in acute

cholecystitis. Gomez-Pinilla PJ, Camello PJ, Pozo MJ.

Department of Physiology, Nursing School, Avda Universidad s/n, 10071 Cáceres,

Spain.

Gallbladder stasis is associated to experimental acute cholecystitis. Impaired

contractility could be, at least in part, the result of inflammation-induced

alterations in the neuromuscular function. This study was designed to determine

the changes in gallbladder neurotransmission evoked by acute inflammation and to

evaluate the protective and therapeutic effects of melatonin. Experimental acute

cholecystitis was induced in guinea pigs by common bile duct ligation for 2

days, and then the neuromuscular function was evaluated using electrical field

stimulation (EFS; 5-40 Hz). In a group of animals with the bile duct ligated for

2 days, a deligation of the duct was performed, and after 2 days, the

neuromuscular function was studied. The EFS-evoked isometric gallbladder

contraction was significantly lower in cholecystitic tissue. In addition,

inflammation changed the pharmacological profile of these contractions that were

insensitive to tetrodotoxin but sensitive to atropine

and omega-conotoxin, indicating that acute cholecystitis affects action

potential propagation in the intrinsic nerves. Nitric oxide (NO)-mediated

neurotransmission was reduced by inflammation, which also increased the

reactivity of sensitive fibers. Melatonin treatment prevented qualitative

changes in gallbladder neurotransmission, but it did not improve EFS-induced

contractility. The hormone recovered gallbladder neuromuscular function once the

biliary obstruction was resolved, even when the treatment was started after the

onset of gallbladder inflammation. These findings show for the first time the

therapeutic potential of melatonin in the recovery of gallbladder neuromuscular

function during acute cholecystitis.

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