Reaction of the Mongolian Gerbil to a Cholesterol‐cholic Acid‐containing Gallstone Inducing Diet

Mongolian gerbils fed chow supplemented with 1 per cent cholesterol and 0.5 per cent cholic acid, developed steatosis of the liver, accumulation of lipids in the reticuloendo‐thelial system, high serum cholesterol levels and accentuated hypoplastic changes of the thyroid gland. In the bile, a marked rise of the cholesterol concentration, a slight rise of the cholic‐ and deoxycholic‐ and a decrease of the chenodeoxycholic acid concentration was observed. After 4 months on the diet, cholesterol gallstones were found in the distended gallbladders. Discontinuance of the diet showed the gerbil to be rather unable to free itself from excess cholesterol with a very slow and incomplete return to normal of liver histology. In this respect the gerbil differs from the mouse but also a number of similarities in the reaction of these two species to the diet were noted.