Neutrophil behavior in pancreas and liver and the role of nitric oxide in rat acute pancreatitis.
The behavior of neutrophils in a rat acute pancreatitis model was observed in the pancreas and liver using fluorescence microscopy with an image analyzing system after labeling with a specific fluorescent reagent. Nonviable cells of both organs were also labeled and quantified. The role of nitric oxide in neutrophil accumulation and organ damage was estimated by administering a relatively selective inhibitor of constitutive nitric oxide synthase, N-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA). The animal model of acute pancreatitis was induced by cerulein injection (80 mg/kg). Two groups were created, one given and the other not given L-NNA (2.5 mg/kg) prior to the induction of pancreatitis. The number of accumulated neutrophils in the pancreas and liver increased in a time-dependent manner. There was a close relation between the distribution of the neutrophils and inviable acinar cells or hepatocytes. When pretreated with L-NNA, the numbers of accumulated neutrophils and nonviable cells increased significantly in the pancreas. In the liver, a more pronounced accumulation of neutrophils was observed after treatment with L-NNA. Although hepatocyte injury was mild despite the neutrophil accumulation in the control, such injury was marked in the group treated with L-NNA. This suggests that neutrophils serve an important role in exacerbating acute pancreatitis and that nitric oxide provides a defense mechanism against neutrophil accumulation in pancreas and liver.
Inagaki
H
H
Department of Surgery II, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Japan.
Nakao
A
A
Kurokawa
T
T
Nonami
T
T
Harada
A
A
Takagi
H
H
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D002196:Capillaries / Q000473:pathology; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002108:Ceruletide; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000502:physiology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D019335:Nitroarginine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010179:Pancreas / Q000473:pathology*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014699:Venules / Q000473:pathology
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D019335:Nitroarginine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D002108:Ceruletide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase