THE CHOLESTEROL FUNCTION OF THE GALL BLADDER

Cholesterol determinations of gall bladder and hepatic bile obtained from the same source reveal a greater concentration in the former even after the inspissating effect of the gall bladder is allowed for. This evidence together with that from other experiments indicates that the gall bladder has the power to excrete cholesterol into its lumen. There is evidence also that infection may accelerate this excretion. An hypothesis is presented to explain the precipitation of cholesterol in the bile, and the bearing of these findings on the pathogenesis of cholesterol stones is briefly discussed.