The role of inflammatory mediators in severe acute pancreatitis and regulation of glucocorticoids.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of glucocorticoids on systemic inflammatory mediator release in rats with acute pancreatitis and the outcome of dexamethasone in treatment of acute pancreatitis.


METHODS
Sixty-eight Wistar rats were divided into sham, acute pancreatitis, and treatment (intravenous dexamethasone 0.5 mg/kg) groups. Experimental acute pancreatitis was induced by the injection of 5% sodium taurocholate (0.1 ml/100 mg body weight) into the pancreatic-biliary duct. The blood samples were obtained and examined for 6-keto-PGI1alpha, TXB2 and IL-6 postoperatively at 3, 6 and 12 hours, respectively. The pancreatic samples were evaluated by a blinded method. Twelve-hour survival rate was determined and compared between the groups.


RESULTS
The high serum concentrations of 6-keto-PGI1alpha, TXB2 and IL-6 were noted in the rats with acute pancreatitis associated with pancreatic hemorrhage and necrosis. Their 12-hour survival rate was 42.9%. The rats in the treatment group survived with significantly reduced serum concentrations of 6-keto-PGI1alpha, TXB2 and IL-6 (P<0.05). Their pancreatic morphology was normal.


CONCLUSIONS
Dexamethasone may reduce the serum concentration of 6-keto-PGI1alpha, TXB2, and IL-6, and the severity of acute pancreatitis while increasing the survival rate of rats with acute pancreatitis.
Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, NW607, Montefiore University Hospital, 3459 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. ziw3@pitt.edu
Zi-Fa
ZF
Wang
Cheng-En
CE
Pan
Yi
Y
Lu
Shao-Gao
SG
Liu
Guan-Jun
GJ
Zhang
Xue-Bin
XB
Zhang
D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D019283:Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015996:Survival Rate; D013929:Thromboxane B2 / Q000378:metabolism
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D013929:Thromboxane B2; D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; D003907:Dexamethasone