An ultrastructural study to investigate the effect of allopurinol on cerulein-induced damage to pancreatic acinar cells in rat.
CONCLUSIONS
Subcellular organelles and membranes were the structures most protected by allopurinol, indirectly demonstrating their role of main and early target of oxygen-derived free radicals in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis.


BACKGROUND
The present work evaluates the ultrastructural changes during cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in rat, with and without treatment with allopurinol.


RESULTS
Supramaximal doses of cerulein, injected intraperitoneally (50 microg/kg) twice, at 1-h interval, caused severe subcellular alterations, including zymogen distribution, pathological vacuoles, and damage to organelles and membranes. Cotreatment (40 mg/kg ip twice with 1-h interval; n = 10 rats) and, most of all, pretreatment (40 mg/kg ip allopurinol, 1 h; 20 mg/kg ip allopurinol + 50 microg/kg ip cerulein, 30 min; 40 mng/kg ip allopurinol, 30 min; 50 microg/kg ip cerulein; n = 10 rats) with allopurinol showed significant morphological improvement.
Brunelli
A
A
Department of Research Nino Masera and University of Ancona School of Medicine, Italy.
Scutti
G
G
D000208:Acute Disease; D000493:Allopurinol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002108:Ceruletide / Q000633:toxicity*; D005609:Free Radicals; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010179:Pancreas / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000139:chemically induced; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D005609:Free Radicals; D000493:Allopurinol; D002108:Ceruletide