OBJECTIVETo explore the regulatory effect of clearing-Heat secreting-bile regulating-Qi flow and activating blood circulation (CSRA) principle on cholecystokinin receptor (CCK-R) and its mechanism.

METHODSCholecystokinin (CCK) in serum of portal venous blood, maximum binding capacity (Bmax) and affinity (Kd) of CCK-R levels in gallbladder of guinea pigs allocated in four groups (control, high cholesterol, natural recovery and treated groups) were determined using radioimmunoassay and radioligand receptor assay (RRA). At the same time, changes of fasting volume (FV) and postprandial volume (PV) of gallbladder, fasting and postprandial bile (FB and PB) in gallbladder, gallbladder contraction rate (GCR) and cholesterol concentration (CC) in bile were observed.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, after two weeks of high cholesterol feeding, increase of FV, FB, PV, PB and CC (P < 0.05), and decrease of GCR (P < 0.01) and Bmax were found in cholesterol group, but with no significant change in Kd and CCK level. The above-mentioned criteria were restored to normal range in the treated group.

CONCLUSIONCSRA principle could promote the recovery of gallbladder contraction by regulating CCK-R expression in it, its mechanism is possibly correlated with reduction of cholesterol concentration in bile.