title: Effect of portal vein occlusion on the pancreas: an experimental model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The effects of portal vein occlusion on the pancreas are not clearly understood. Therefore, we studied histomorphological changes induced in the rat pancreas by various periods of portal vein occlusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty female Wistar albino rats were randomly allocated into four groups of 15 each. In Group I (control), rats underwent sham laparotomy to expose the portal vein proximal to its bifurcation. In Groups II-IV, rats underwent laparotomy followed by portal vein occlusion by clamping for 15, 30, and 60 minutes respectively. The pancreas was removed immediately after sham laparotomy in Group I and immediately after clamp release in Groups II-IV. Pancreatic tissue specimens were subjected to histochemical analysis for cell typing and diagnosis, immunohistochemical analysis for identification of the inflammatory markers tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and inducible NOS (iNOS), and TUNEL analysis was carried out for identification of apoptotic cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histochemistry revealed signs of inflammation in pancreatic tissue from rats subjected to portal vein occlusion. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the expression of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-1beta and the oxidative damage indicator iNOS in rat pancreatic tissue increased progressively with the duration of portal vein occlusion. TUNEL assay revealed no signs of apoptosis in any of the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that portal vein occlusion triggers an inflammatory response in the pancreas that worsens the longer the occlusion lasts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Celal Bayar University Medical Faculty, Manisa, Turkey. hasanaydede@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aydede
authors.forename: Yamac
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Erhan
authors.forename: Ozer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ikgül
authors.forename: Serap
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cilaker
authors.forename: Aslan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sakarya
authors.forename: Seda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vatansever
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000032:analysis; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000032:analysis; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000032:analysis; D010179:Pancreas / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III