AIM:To identify the cholecystokinin (CCK)-A receptors (CCK-AR) on the guniea pig gallbladder interstitial cells of cajal (ICC) and to study CCK-8 induced gallbladder muscle strip contractions through the CCK-AR. METHODS:The existence of CCK-AR was examined by immunohistofluorescence on sectioned tissue and cultured cells. In vitro contractile response of guinea pig gallbladder muscle strips and the strips with ICC removed were also studied with CCK-8 receptors added. RESULTS:In t i s s ue s e c t ions , int e ns e ly CCKARimmunoreactive interstitial cells were found mainly in the muscular layers. In cultured cell sections, distinctive double staining of C-kit and CCK-AR ICCs were found. When we removed the ICC of the gallbladder, CCK-8 induced muscle strip contraction dose response curve significantly shifted to the right. CONCLUSION:We proved that both the existence of CCK-AR on the guinea pig gallbladder ICC and CCK evoked contraction are mediated through direct action on CCK-AR on the gallbladder ICC.

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Review question / Objective: Precocious puberty is defined as the onset of secondary sexual characteristics before the age of 8 years in girls and 9 years in boys. It can be differentiated into central precocious puberty (CPP) and peripheral precocious puberty, and it is more common in girls than in boys. CPP may result in a decreased final adult height, an early age at menarche, and psychological and health problems in adulthood. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) GnRH stimulation test has been indispensable in the diagnosis of CPP. GnRH stimulation test is not only invasive, time-consuming and expensive, but also sometimes difficult to have patients cooperate. Nocturnal urinary LH and FSH can represent gonadotropin excretion in children with normal and early puberty. And urinary sample collection and evaluation are more convenient, more acceptable, cheaper, and noninvasive. This meta-analysis aims to assess the value of first-voided urinary luteinizing hormone (LH) and the ratio of urinary luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in the diagnosis of female CPP and to compare the accuracy between urinary gonadotropins and serum GnRH-stimulated gonadotropins.