Components of the biliary phenotype may be altered by crossfostering mice shortly after birth.

<p>(A) Normalized gallbladder weight (B) mucin gel score (C) Liquid crystal phase separation (D) cholesterol monohydrate crystal formation, (E) sandy stone formation and (F) cholesterol gallstone formation were analyzed after 8 weeks of lithogenic diet feeding. (A) Both Tac and Jax fostered to Tac developed significantly larger gallbladders (*P<0.05) compared to Jax mice. (B) Jax mice displayed significant (*P<0.05) elevations in mucin gel accumulation compared to all other groups including Jax fostered to Tac. (D–E) Jax mice and Jax fostered to Tac developed significantly more (P<0.05) cholesterol monohydrate and sandy stones then either group from Taconic. (F) Tac mice developed significantly (P<0.05) less cholesterol gallstones then Jax mice and both fostered groups displayed intermediate and non-significantly different levels of cholesterol gallstone formation.