An animal model of black pigment gallstones caused by nanobacteria.

Black pigment gallstones are often founded in gallbladder, but their pathogenesis is unclear. The present study was undertaken to study the role of nanobacteria in pigment gallstone formation in Japanese white rabbits. Nanobacteria were successfully cultured from 3 of 7 cholecystolithiasis patients gallbladder (without acute cholecystitis) bile samples and affirmed by Hoechst 33258 staining and specific immunostaining using monoclonal antibody.