The Study On The Relationship Between H₁ Calponin MRNA Expression In Biliary Tract And Gallstone Formation In Pregnancy

Objiective To explore the effects of h₁ calponin mRNA expression on the biliary tract dynamics and investigate the molecular mechanisms of gallstone formation in pregnancy.Methods 30 femal guinea pigs were divided randomly into 3 groups, the nonpregnant group(n=10), the 30 days of pregnancy(n=10) and the 60 days of pregnancy group(n=10). Animal models of pregnancy were established on experimental guinea pigs through feeding animals with one cage according to female versus male as 4: 1. The bile, the portal vein blood, the gallbladder smooth muscles and Oddi sphincters were obtained respectively . The concentration of total cholesterol (TC), total bilirubin (TBiL) and total bile acid (TBA) in the bile, the serum estradiol(E2) and progesterone(Pg) levels were determined respectively. Expression levels of hi.calponin mRNA in gallbladder smooth muscles and Oddi sphincters(OS) were evaluated by using semiquantitative reverse tanscription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results The levels of TC, TBiL and the serum E2 and Pg were significantly increased in pregnant guinea pigs, however, that of TBA decreased. Up-regulation of hi.calponin gene expression was observed in gallbladder in the 60 days of pregnancy, but converse in Oddi sphincters. The difference between the nonpregnant group and the 60 days of pregnancy group was remarkable.Conclusion Up-regulation of hi.calponin gene expression in gallbladder smooth muscles and down-regulation in Oddi sphincters might play a key role in induced dysfunction of extrahepatic biliary tract, bile stasis and gallstone formation in pregnancy.