Gall Bladder Distension in Choline-deficient Chicks

Abstract

Newly hatched chicks were fed high fat, choline-deficient or choline-supplemented diets for 7 days. At this time they were killed, gall bladders were excised and the bladder contents analyzed. It was observed that choline- deficient chicks exhibit marked distension of the gall bladder. Such chicks would vomit when disturbed. The effect of choline deficiency on the gall bladder status of chicks was interpreted as a dysfunction of this organ secondary to decreased cholinergic activity of the autonomie nervous system. Bladder bile of deficient chicks had a higher concentration of bilirubin but not of calcium or cholesterol as compared to the bile of supplemented chicks. The feeding of cholesterol to choline-deficient chicks further elevated the bilirubin content of the bile without producing additional changes in the bile. The feeding of cholesterol to both de ficient and supplemented chicks caused an elevation of serum cholesterol, the rise being greater in the supplemented birds. This latter finding is similar to that seen in weanling rats subjected to the same dietary treatment. J. Nutr. 101: 1233-1240, 1971.