Hyperplastic innervation of vasoactive intestinal peptide in human gallbladder with cholelithiasis.

The vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) immunoreactive nerve fibres in the gallbladder from 14 human patients with cholelithiasis was examined by immunohistochemical method. In the chronic cholecystitis, hyperplastic VIP immunoreactive nerves were observed around the hypertrophied muscle bundles, Rokitansky Aschoff Sinus and in the mucosal layer. However, in the acute cholecystitis and gangrenous cholecystitis, reduction or disappearance of VIP nerve fibres was observed. These reductions or disappearances of VIP immunoreactive nerves may secondly result from severe tissue damage. These results suggest that hyperplastic VIP nerves cause gallbladder relaxation, stasis and mucosal fluid unbalance, which may closely correlate to gallstone formation.