The present study was performed to evaluate the histochemical properties of epithelial mucins in diseased gallbladders.

18 gallbladder specimens were selected in which metaplastic goblet cells had been observed. Of the specimens 9 were gallstone and 9 cholecystitis.

For microscopic examination, tissues were sectioned at a thickness 5µm, and were stained with following histochemical techniques: Alcian blue at pH 1.0 or 2.5 and periodic acid Schiff's reaction (PAS).

Observed results were as follows:

1) In ordinary gallbladder the epithelial cells showed a predominance of sulphated mucosubstance.

2) In many case of cholelithiasis a typical goblet-typed epithelial cells were found in the top of folds. In large goblet cell area the relative proportion of sulphated acid mucin decreased and correspondingly non-sulphated acid mucin increased.

3) In the case of cholecystitis the intracellular mucin of high columnar epithelium predominated in the deep area of folds.

4) The neutral mucin predominated in the surface epithelium of gallbladder under pathological condition.