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Radioactive choline metabolism in guinea pig gallbladder

Is there measurable acetylcholine release?

  • Pancreatic and Biliary Disorders
  • Published:
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Abstract

Acetylcholine may be released from gallbladder intrinsic nerves in response to cholecystokinin stimulation. This study characterized metabolites of [14C]choline produced in the gallbladder and released during incubation, with or without cholecystokinin-octapeptide. Radiolabeled [14C]choline was applied to the mucosal or muscle surface of intact guinea pig gallbladders in an organ bath. After radiolabeling, gallbladders were incubated with or without the contractile agonist cholecystokinin-octapeptide. Metabolites of [14C]choline were identified in gallbladder tissue and incubation buffers using HPLC and thin-layer chromatography. The major metabolites of [14C]choline were betaine and phosphocholine. [14C]Phosphocholine was incorporated slowly into [14C]phosphatidylcholine. [14C]Choline was released into buffers during incubation. [14C]Acetylcholine constituted less than 1% of radiolabel in the gallbladder. There was no identifiable [14C]acetylcholine released in buffers. Cholecystokinin-octapeptide did not affect choline metabolism. These studies showed that choline in the gallbladder is metabolized along pathways similar to those in the liver. Gallbladders released mostly choline, rather than acetylcholine, even during hormonally induced contraction.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery and Pathology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston

    Erica A. Brotschi MD, Carol L. Hilbinger BA, Elizabeth A. Kahl AB, William A. Vaules AB, Nicholas A. Midis AB, J. Krzysztof Blusztajn PhD & Stephen H. Zeisel MD, PhD

  2. Boston Department of Veterans Affairs, Medical Center, 02130, Boston, Massachusetts

    Erica A. Brotschi MD, Carol L. Hilbinger BA, Elizabeth A. Kahl AB, William A. Vaules AB, Nicholas A. Midis AB, J. Krzysztof Blusztajn PhD & Stephen H. Zeisel MD, PhD

  3. Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina, 27599, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

    Erica A. Brotschi MD, Carol L. Hilbinger BA, Elizabeth A. Kahl AB, William A. Vaules AB, Nicholas A. Midis AB, J. Krzysztof Blusztajn PhD & Stephen H. Zeisel MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Erica A. Brotschi MD
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  2. Carol L. Hilbinger BA
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  3. Elizabeth A. Kahl AB
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  4. William A. Vaules AB
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  5. Nicholas A. Midis AB
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  6. J. Krzysztof Blusztajn PhD
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  7. Stephen H. Zeisel MD, PhD
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This project was supported by the Research and Development Office of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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Brotschi, E.A., Hilbinger, C.L., Kahl, E.A. et al. Radioactive choline metabolism in guinea pig gallbladder. Digest Dis Sci 40, 1982–1989 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02208667

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02208667

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