Korean J Gastroenterol.
2001 Sep;38(3):147-153.
Experimental Animal Model of Biliary Tract Diseases
Abstract
- The most common animal for the study of biliary tract diseases is hamster, because it is similar to human in biliary tract structure and bile composition. It is generally accepted that the formation of gallstones can be accomplished by the special diet according to the characteristics of each cholesterol or pigment gallstones. With high cholesterol diet, we can rapidly establish the reliable animal model of cholesterol cholelithiasis, and high starch or carbohydrate diet can make the animal model of the pigment gallstone. In addition, pigment gallstones are easily formed in animals with the bile stasis and bile duct stricture. The chances of crystal growth and stone formation are further enhanced by mucus hypersecretion and gallbladder hypomotility. The animal model of cholangiocarcinoma is established by nitrosamine injection in animals with bile duct stricture formation or liver fluke infestation, and this type of cholangiocarcinoma is prevalent in Asia. The use of animal models will be continuously useful not only in promoting our understanding of the pathogenesis but also in developing new chemicals for dissolution, prevention of gallstone diseases and new markers for early detecting cholangiocarcinoma, even the new therapeutic materials.
