J.Jpn. Surg. Soc.. 61(9): 1228-1233, 1960

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Original article

EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES ON THE ELECTROLYTES IN PREGNANCY

Recently, Isacksson has reported of the presence of lecithin bile salt complex in bile which is a important factor in the solubility of cholesterol present. I also reported previously in paper electrophoretic studies that the electrolytes such as sodium and calcium play a great rôle to firm or loosen the combinations of lecithin and bile salt. Riegel found the decreases of bile salt and calcium and increases of cholesterol in pregnancy.
For the purpose of clarifying a significance of pregnancy upon the genesis of gallstone formation, an experimental study on the electrolytes of sheep bile in pregnancy was performed. The results obtained were as follows:
1) In comparison of electrolytes between bladder bile and hepatic bile, it was recognized that the bladder bile was concentrated to about twice in calcium and about 1.3 times in sodium, indicating that absorption of sodium the bladder wall was greater than that of calcium.
2) In early pregnancy there were no changes of the electrolytes, but in late pregnancy the decreases of sodium and calcium and the increases of chlorides were found. Calcium increased gradually one week after delivery to the highest peak two months later. Sodium and pottasium were recovered into normal level one month after delivery. The changes of calcium-sodium ratio were characteristic, in late pregnancy the ratio decreased remarkablly and after delivery increased gradually to keep higher level than normal for two or three monthes.
3) Since the electrolytes of bile were influenced by the changes of serum electrolytes, it was suggested that they are related closely with metabolism of body fluids and the absorpting function of the bladder wall, and the disturbance of those balances may result to produce gallstone.
(Author's abstract)

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