• Ding Youming, Wang Bin, Wang Weixing, Wang Binghua, Luo Ruoyu, and Cheng Bangchang.
• Department of Hepatobiliary and Laparoscopic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
• Saudi Med J. 2006 Nov 1; 27 (11): 166116661661-6.

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of h(1) calponin mRNA expression on the biliary tract dynamics, and investigate the molecular mechanisms of gallstone formation in pregnancy.MethodsThis study was carried out in Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, and in the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Wuhan University School of Medicine, Wuhan, China from July to December 2004. Thirty female guinea pigs were divided randomly into 3 groups, the nonpregnant group (n=10) (group A), the 30 days of pregnancy group (n=10) (group B), and the 60 days of pregnancy group (n=10) (group C). Animal models of pregnancy were established on pregnant group guinea pigs through feeding animals with one cage according to female versus male as 4:1. The total cholesterol (TC), total bilirubin (TBiL), total bile acid (TBA) in the bile and the serum estradiol (E(2)), progesterone (Pg) levels were determined respectively. Expression levels of h(1) calponin mRNA in gallbladder smooth muscles and Oddi's Sphincter (OS) were evaluated using semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).ResultsThe concentration of TC, TBiL and the serum E(2) and Pg were more significantly increasing in group C than that in the other 2 groups. However, the concentration of TBA decreased gradually from group A to group C. Up-regulation of h(1) calponin gene expression was observed in the gallbladder smooth muscles in group C, but converse in OS.ConclusionThe h(1) calponin might play an important role in inducing dysfunction of extrahepatic biliary tract, bile stasis in gallbladder and gallstone formation in pregnancy.

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