The Sugar Spectrum of Human Cholesterol Gallstones, Mixed and Pigment Gallstones: Combined Quantitative Analysis of Neutral Sugars, N-Acetylhexosamines, Hexuronic and N-Acetylneuraminic Acids by Capillary Gas-Liquid Chromatography

Summary: Glycoproteins were investigated in different types of biliary calculi by a methanolysis procedure of the carbohydrate moiety, the formation of 2,6-dinitro-4-trifluoromethylbenzenesulphonate derivatives of N-acetylhexosamines and N-acetylneuraminic acid, followed by Separation, identification and quantification of the liberated monosaccharides using capillary gas-liquid chromatography. This indirect method avoids several analytical problems caused by the presence of bile pigment derivatives; unless these are carefully removed they interfere strongly in the measurement of protein. The carbohydrate Contents were much higher in pigment stones than in cholesterol and mixed stones. Rhamnose, a non-mammalian monosaccharide, was identified in most samples, but was significant increased in pigment stones, indicating a bacterial history of this stone type. Das Zuckerspektrum von Cholesterin-Gallensteinen, gemischten Gallensteinen und erdigen Pigment-Gallen