Objective To explore the relationship between the ultrastructure and gallstone recurrence after cholecystolithotomy.Methods By implanting human cholesterol gallstone into the gallbladder of rabbits, the ultrasructure of the gallbladder was observed with scanning eleetron microscope and transmission electron microscope,3 months before and after cholecystolithotomy.Results ln the stone-implanted group,the epithelium cells were massively damaged,nuclei karyopyknosis,mitochondria destroyed, and phagolysosomes increased. After the gallstone removal, the epitheliune cells did not recover completely where exposed connective tissues and covering surface by mucus. In cytoplasm, the lysosome decreased, and mucus granules secretion increased and actively secreted into the gallbladder lumen.Conclusions The pathologic changes of chronic cholecystitis caused by implanting stones in rabbits is similar to that of the chronic calculous cholecystitis in human.The basic cause of gallstone recurrence after cholecystolithotomy might be that the ultrastructural changes not be restored and the mucus secretion increased obviously in gallbladder.