Approximately 1 million people in the United States alone develop gallstones each year. The incidence is higher in women than in men and the ratio being 4 ≥ 1. A correlation has also been suggested between oral contraceptives and cholelithiasis. In addition, postmenopausal or cancer estrogen therapy has been reported to be a factor responsible for gallstone formation. Female sex hormone receptors have been detected not only in the gallbladder musculature, but also in its epithelium. As a follow up to experiments effectuated in the male and the ovariectomized Syrian hamster, this report shows that, a combination of a low cholesterol diet with female sex steroid treatment contributes to the formation of gallstone-like deposits, while modifying the surface epithelium morphology. Syrian hamsters (F1B strain, BioBreeders, Watertown MA) were housed under 12h light: 12 h dark cycle, at 20 °C, fed Purina chow and water ad libitum. Several duration/treatment groups were studied, but this report will focus on data obtained with the group injected weekly with estradiol valerate (E weekly, s.c. 8-10 μg/100 g.b.w., in corn oil) and with i.m. medroxyprogesterone acetate (DepoProvera Upjohn Co., Kalamazoo, MI; 8-10 mg/100 g.b.w.) for a 3-month period. Other parameters (blood and bile) were also studied but not reported here.
