Pharmacological Research Communications, Vol. 16, No. 2,, 1984 111 INFLUENCE OF DL-2-PHENYL [6-ETHOXYBENZOTHIAZOLYL-(2)-THIO] PROPIONIC ACID (EMD 34853) ON GALLSTONE FORMATION IN HAMSTERS by David Kritchevsky and David M. Klurfeld The Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology 36th Street at Spruce Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104 U.S.A. Received in final form 2 September 1983 Supported, in part, by a Research Career Award (HL-00734) and a grant (HL-03299) from the National Institutes of Health; and by grants-in-aid from E. Merck, Darmstadt, the Con~nonwea]th of Pennsylvania and Fmry L. Smith. ~JMMARY The effects of two levels (50 and 167o~/kg) of a new hypocholestero- lemic drug (EMD 34853) on gallstone formation in hamsters were investi- gated. Lithogenicity was inhibited by 28-45%. Levels of billary lipids (cholesterol, phosphclipid, bile aci~s) werereduced in the drug-treated animls. INTRODUCTION Dam and Christensen (1952) were able to produce gallstones in hamsters by feeding them a diet containing sucrose (74.3%), casein (20%), salt mix (5%), vitamin mix (0.5%) and choline chloride (0.2%). Studies of 0031-6989/84/020111.--05/$03.00/0 © 1984 The Italian Pharmacological Society