Pancreatic fibrosis in experimental pancreatitis induced by dibutyltin dichloride.
OBJECTIVE
Regulatory mechanisms in chronic pancreatitis finally resulting in pancreatic fibrosis cannot be studied sufficiently in human pancreas. Results of a new pancreatitis model in rats suitable for investigation of the processes leading to pancreatic fibrosis are presented.


METHODS
Experimental pancreatitis was induced by intravenous application of 8 mg/kg body wt dibutyltin dichloride. Pancreatitis was characterized by histology, serum parameters, and immunohistochemistry, detecting inflammatory cells. Gene expression of collagen type I and transforming growth factor beta1 was shown by Northern blot analysis.


RESULTS
Dibutyltin dichloride induced an acute edematous pancreatitis within 24 hours. Extensive infiltration with mononuclear cells could be observed after day 7 followed by the development of fibrosis. Parallel to the cell infiltration, an upregulation of messenger RNA-encoding collagen type I and transforming growth factor beta1 could be shown. An active inflammatory process could be shown until the end of the observation period, i.e., 2 months.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that dibutyltin dichloride-induced pancreatitis in rats is suitable to study cellular interactions and mediators involved in the development of pancreatic fibrosis.
Sparmann
G
G
Department of Gastroenterology, University of Rostock, Germany.
Merkord
J
J
Jäschke
A
A
Nizze
H
H
Jonas
L
L
Löhr
M
M
Liebe
S
S
Emmrich
J
J
D000818:Animals; D003094:Collagen / Q000235:genetics; D005355:Fibrosis; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009947:Organotin Compounds; D010179:Pancreas / Q000473:pathology*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics
D009947:Organotin Compounds; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D003094:Collagen; C020735:dibutyldichlorotin