Effect of inducible cyclooxygenase expression on local microvessel blood flow in acute interstitial pancreatitis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of inducible cyclooxygenase (COX-2) mRNA expression in local microvessels in rats with acute interstitial pancreatitis (AIP) induced by caerulein injection.


METHODS
The reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect COX-2 gene expression in pancreatic tissue. Parameters of acute pancreatitis, such as serum amylase (AMS) and plasma myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities, were assayed using spectrophotometry. Intravital fluorescence microscopy with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labelled erythrocytes was used to study the pancreatic microvessels of rats with AIP and normal control rats.


RESULTS
Highly significant increases in COX-2 expression and AMS and MPO activity were seen in rats with AIP compared with controls. After caerulein injection, pancreatic capillary blood flow was decreased (4 hours, p > 0.05; 8 hours, p < 0.001), functional capillary density was reduced (4 hours, p > 0.05; 8 hours, p < 0.001), and there was irregular and intermittent capillary perfusion at 8 hours. There was also a positive correlation between the level of COX-2 expression and MPO activity (plasma, r = 0.5449, p < 0.05; tissue, r = 0.5698, p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The correlations between increased COX-2 expression and decreased capillary perfusion and blood flow and increased oedema following AIP may show that COX-2 expression can induce neutrophil sequestration to the pancreas, which may be one of the cascading inflammatory factors in the development of AIP.
Zhou
Zong-Guang
ZG
Department of Pancreatic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Sichuan, Chengdu 610041, China.
Yan
Wen-Wei
WW
Chen
You-Qin
YQ
Chen
You-Dai
YD
Zheng
Xue-Lian
XL
Peng
Xiao-Hui
XH
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D002108:Ceruletide / Q000009:adverse effects; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000503:physiopathology; D023421:Models, Animal; D010179:Pancreas / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D007527:Isoenzymes; D002108:Ceruletide; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases