Abstract

Objective: This research was designed to assess the influence of the administration of a lithogenic diet, hydrogen peroxide, and vitamin AD3E on rabbits’ gallstone formation and to envisage the expression of osteopontin (OPN) in their hepatic tissues.
Materials and Methods: Twenty-four healthy local mature rabbits of both genders were divided into four equal groups. At the end of the feeding period, samples of blood were taken from all rab¬bits after they had fasted overnight to estimate the serum lipid profile. And some of the hepatic tissue has been preserved at −28°C for molecular analysis and gene expression.
Results: The gallstones were formed 100% in the GIII and 50% in the GIV. The mRNA OPN expression showed a significant increase in the GIII when compared with other groups. In Groups III and II, the serum levels of total cholesterol, Triglyceride, L-C, low-density lipoprotein-choles, and VLDL-C were significantly increased when compared with GI, while in GIII, the serum level of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol was significantly decreased when compared with GI.
Conclusion: It was concluded that the expression of the mRNA OPN was increased in the hepatic tissue of gallstone-formed rabbits.

Key words: Osteopontin; gene expression; gallbladder stone; cholelithiasis; oxidative stress; lithogenic diet