OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of CCK-A receptor and its relation with gallbladder hypomotility in patients with gallstone. METHODS: 20 patients with gallstone and 10 normal subjects were studied and gallbladder emptying function was measured by B ultrasonography. The other 8 patients without gallstone who died of accident were selected as controls for measuring mRNA expression of CCK-A receptor of gallbladder; RT-PCR was used to explore gene expression of CCK-A receptor of gallbladder. RESULTS: The gallbladder motility was significantly impaired in gallstone patients. The patients had lower mRNA expression of CCK-A receptor than control subjects (0.633 +/- 0.167 vs. 0.944 +/- 0.230, P < 0.01), and so did patients with impaired gallbladder motility then those with normal motility (0.544 +/- 0.124 vs. 0.768 +/- 0.131, P < 0.05). Furthermore, the change of expression of CCK-A receptors was markedly correlated with gallbladder emptying (r = 0.925, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: mRNA expression of CCK-A receptor in gallstone patients decreases, which was related to gallbladder hypomotility. The down-regulation of gene expression of CCK-A receptor plays an important role in gallbladder hypomotility in patients with gallstone.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of CCK-A receptor and its relation with gallbladder hypomotility in patients with gallstone. METHODS: 20 patients with gallstone and 10 normal subjects were studied and gallbladder emptying function was measured by B ultrasonography. The other 8 patients without gallstone who died of accident were selected as controls for measuring mRNA expression of CCK-A receptor of gallbladder; RT-PCR was used to explore gene expression of CCK-A receptor of gallbladder. RESULTS: The gallbladder motility was significantly impaired in gallstonepatients. The patients had lower mRNA expression of CCK-A receptor than control subjects (0.633 +/- 0.167 vs. 0.944 +/- 0.230, P < 0.01), and so did patients with impaired gallbladder motility then those with normal motility (0.544 +/- 0.124 vs. 0.768 +/- 0.131, P < 0.05). Furthermore, the change of expression of CCK-A receptors was markedly correlated with gallbladder emptying (r = 0.925, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: mRNA expression of CCK-A receptor in gallstonepatients decreases, which was related to gallbladder hypomotility. The down-regulation of gene expression of CCK-A receptor plays an important role in gallbladder hypomotility in patients with gallstone.