Acute lung injury in two experimental models of acute pancreatitis: infusion of saline or sodium taurocholate into the pancreatic duct.
OBJECTIVE
To compare acute pulmonary changes secondary to sodium taurocholate hemorrhagic pancreatitis with those changes secondary to a less severe pancreatitis induced by saline infusion into the biliopancreatic duct.


METHODS
Prospective, randomized controlled trial.


METHODS
University pulmonary laboratory.


METHODS
A total of 110 male Wistar rats.


METHODS
Pancreatitis was induced by either 0.5 mL of a 4% solution of sodium taurocholate (TAU group) or 0.5 mL of normal saline (SAL group) injection into the biliopancreatic duct. Data were compared with data from control (sham-operated) animals (SHAM group).


RESULTS
The severity of pancreatic and pulmonary injuries was evaluated 1, 3, and 8 days after the induction of acute pancreatitis by morphometric and pulmonary mechanical studies. Biliopancreatic duct pressure was measured during infusion of solutions in SAL and TAU groups. SAL and TAU groups developed an intense necrohemorrhagic pancreatitis on day 1 without differences in biliopancreatic duct pressures (134.0+/-45.1 cm H2O vs. 123.3+/-23.4 cm H2O). Acute pancreatic lesions were still intense on day 3 in the TAU group only. Pulmonary resistance in SAL and TAU groups was significantly greater than in the SHAM group on day 3 only. On day 1, there was an increase in intraalveolar edema in both groups (p < .02). There was an increase in polymorphonuclear cells in alveolar septa on day 1 only in the TAU group (p < .001). In contrast, both experimental groups presented greater values of PMN cells on day 8 compared with the SHAM group (p < .001). Both groups with pancreatitis showed an increase in alveolar distention and collapse on day 1 that persisted only in the TAU group on days 3 and 8. No deaths were observed in the control (SHAM) group. In contrast, the SAL group had lower mortality than the TAU group in the first two days (17% and 52%, respectively, p = .03).


CONCLUSIONS
High-pressure infusion of normal saline into the biliopancreatic duct of rats results in significant pancreatic and lung alterations. These changes are worse in the presence of sodium taurocholate.
Lichtenstein
A
A
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Milani
R
R
Fernezlian
S M
SM
Leme
A S
AS
Capelozzi
V L
VL
Martins
M A
MA
D000818:Animals; D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics / Q000633:toxicity*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008297:Male; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts; D019283:Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000633:toxicity*; D018746:Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D013656:Taurocholic Acid / Q000633:toxicity*
D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D013656:Taurocholic Acid