Nitric oxide regulates bacterial translocation in experimental acute edematous pancreatitis.
OBJECTIVE
The role of nitric oxide (NO) in bacterial translocation (BT) associated with acute pancreatitis is controversial. We investigated the effects of the NO synthase substrate, L-arginine, and the NO synthase inhibitor, N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), on BT in caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in rats.


METHODS
Acute pancreatitis was induced by subcutaneous injections of caerulein (12 microg/kg) at 6-hour intervals for 2 days. Subcutaneous injections of L-arginine (100 mg/kg) or L-NAME (10 mg/kg) were administeredonce daily for 2 days. At 48 h, pancreatic injury and BT to the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), liver, and peritoneum were assessed.


RESULTS
Compared with controls, rats that received caerulein injections alone had increased BT to the MLN and pancreatic inflammatory changes. L-Arginine significantly reduced the inflammation and BT caused by caerulein. L-NAME did not significantly alter pancreatic inflammation. Although caerulein + L-NAME-treated rats had increased BT to the peritoneum, MLN, and liver compared with controls, rates of BT did not significantly differ between caerulein alone- and caerulein + L-NAME-treated rats.


CONCLUSIONS
In acute edematous pancreatitis, BT is increased and is regulated by NO. NO substrates limit BT and pancreatic inflammation associated with acute pancreatitis, probably by their bactericidal actions and ability to improve pancreatic blood flow.
Cevikel
Mehmet Hakan
MH
Department of General Surgery, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey. cevikelh@superonline.com
Ozgün
Hedef
H
Boylu
Sükrü
S
Demirkiran
Ahmet Ender
AE
Sakarya
Serhan
S
Culhaci
Nil
N
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology; D018988:Bacterial Translocation / Q000502:physiology*; D002108:Ceruletide; D004487:Edema / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008099:Liver / Q000382:microbiology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D010179:Pancreas / Q000473:pathology; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000382:microbiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D009569:Nitric Oxide; D002108:Ceruletide; D001120:Arginine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester