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K. N. Jalan ¹, M. L. Chakraborty ¹, S. K. Agarwal ¹, T. Samanta ¹, D. Mahalanobis ¹, D. K. Chattoraj ², S. P. Moulik ²

Affiliations
1 Kothari Centre of Gastroenterology, Calcutta Medical Research Institute, Calcutta-700 027, IN
2 Department of Food Technology and Biochemical Engineering and Department of Chemistry, Jadavpur University, Calcutta-700 032, IN

Abstract

The intrinsic stability of human bile as well as the stability of model and natural bile in different salt environments were studied. The results suggested that irrespective of its cholesterol content, human bile was unstable and exhibited spontaneous precipitation of its three major components, cholesterol, phospholipids and bile salts. The extent of precipitation of each component varied from sample to sample. Salts imparted instability to the bile and cations of higher valancy were more effective. Multivalent cation, Ca⁺⁺, Mg⁺⁺ and Fe⁺⁺⁺ caused partial precipitation of all the three components of the model as well as the natural bile. The multivalent protein protamine sulphate was also a much effective precipitant. The precipitation by the electrolytes followed the Hardy-Shulze valency rule observed for hydrophobic colloids according to which the power of precipitation by an electrolyte depends on its ion carrying charge opposite in sign to that of the colloid. The effectivity followed the order: protamine sulphate>FeCl^-₃₂>MgCl₂>CaCl₂>NaCl. Washing of the precipitates by either water or isotonic saline in the case of model bile and by diluted bile in the case of human bile resulted resolubilisation of a part of the phospholipids and bile salts. All these results advocated colloid chemical nature of bile. They also suggested that the micro components of the human bile give some natural protection against precipitation.

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K. N. Jalan ¹, M. L. Chakraborty ¹, S. K. Agarwal ¹, D. Mahalanabis ¹, D. K. Chattoraj ², S. P. Moulik ², B. S. Ahuja ³

Affiliations
1 Kothari Centre of Gastroenterology, The Calcutta Medical Research Institute, 712 Diamond Harbour Road, Calcutta-700 027, IN
2 Department of Food Technology and Bio-Engineering and Department of Chemistry Jadavpur University, Calcutta- 700 032, IN
3 Department of Chemistry, Punjab University, Patiala, IN

Abstract

Gallbladder bile from 27 control and 34 patients with cholesterol gallstone belonging to the Indian Ganges Delta have been analysed with respect to its three major components i.e. cholesterol, bile salt and phospholipid. The results when plotted on triangular co-ordinate failed to demonstrate any differences between lithogenic and non-lithogenic bile. The micellar and non-micellar boundary lines in accordance with the phase rule invoked by Admirand and Small1 and Holzbach et a1 have thus been considered ineffective as markers for patient and non-patient classification. The lithogenic index has been observed to be proportionately dependent on D/T ratio but not so on the G/T ratio. The maximum cholesterol solubility of the bile has been observed to be independent of all these parameters. The occurence of significant amounts of bile salts and phospholipids as well as calcium and iron salts alongwith cholesterol in stones suggests the inapplicability of phase rule to the stability of human bile system. The role of microcomponents of bile (ions, glycoproteins, etc.) appears to be significant for cholesterol stone formation.

Keywords

Stability of Bile, Gallstone, Phase Diagram.

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