Prophylactic effect of restraint stress on cerulein-induced pancreatitis in rats: role of endogenous glucocorticoids.
Stress is reportedly known to affect the severity of acute pancreatitis, yet the effect has not been without controversy. We investigated the influence of restraint stress on cerulein-induced pancreatitis, especially in relation to endogenous glucocorticoids. In the present study, restraint stress significantly reduced the increase in serum amylase levels but not pancreas weight induced by cerulein, the effect being totally antagonized by pretreatment with mifepristone, a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist. The changes induced by cerulein were prevented by dexamethasone in a dose-dependent manner. Histologically, restraint stress suppressed the intralobular edema, similar to a low dose of dexamethasone, while the latter at a high dose prevented not only the intralobular but also the interlobular edema. These results suggest that restraint stress exerts a beneficial influence on the cerulein-induced pancreatitis, mainly mediated by endogenous glucocorticoids, and it is assumed that short-term steroid therapy has a potential of clinical application for treatment of pancreatitis.
Abe
Mitsumasa
M
Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, 465 Kajii-cho, Kamigyo, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan. abe@sun.kpu-m.ac.jp
Kato
Shinichi
S
Okayama
Mitsuaki
M
Aihara
Eitaro
E
Mitsufuji
Shoji
S
Takeuchi
Koji
K
D000681:Amylases / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D002108:Ceruletide; D018834:Chaperonin 60 / Q000378:metabolism; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000502:physiology; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D010179:Pancreas / Q000378:metabolism; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012149:Restraint, Physical
D018834:Chaperonin 60; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D003907:Dexamethasone; D002108:Ceruletide; D009195:Peroxidase; D000681:Amylases