To study the mechanism of cholesterol gallstone formation, rabbit models were induced by feeding with high cholesterol diet. Bile acids were tested with bi-wavelengh thin layer scan and low density lipoprotein receptor activity of hepatocytes binding to 125I-LDL were tested with radio immunoassay in different feeding phases as 1,2,3 and 4-week groups, as well as the control group. The results showed that cholesterol gallstones in 2,3 and 4-week groups were induced in respectively. The contents of glucocholic acid (GCA) in bile were decreased significantly (vs control group, Ｐ＜0.05). The Bmax values of LDL receptor of hepatocytes binding to 125I-LDL were decreased significantly (Ｐ＜0.05). Kd values of those gradually increased (Ｐ＜0.05). These suggest that the decreased activity of LDL receptor of hepatocytes would reduce the synthesis of GCA, thus resulting in the formation of cholesterol gallstones.
