Preventive effect of tetramethylpyrazine on intestinal mucosal injury in rats with acute necrotizing pancreatitis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the role of microcirculatory disorder (MCD) and the therapeutic effectiveness of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) on intestinal mucosa injury in rats with acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP).


METHODS
A total of 192 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal control group (C group), ANP group not treated with TMP (P group), ANP group treated with TMP (T group). An ANP model was induced by injection of 50 g/L sodium taurocholate under the pancreatic membrane (4 mL/kg). C group received isovolumetric injection of 9 g/L physiological saline solution using the same method. T group received injection of TMP (10 mL/kg) via portal vein. Radioactive biomicrosphere technique was used to measure the blood flow at 0.5, 2, 6 and 12 h after the induction of ANP. Samples of pancreas, distal ileum were collected to observe pathological changes using a validated histology score. Intestinal tissues were also used for examination of myeloperoxidase (MPO) expressed intracellularly in azurophilic granules of neutrophils.


RESULTS
The blood flow was significantly lower in P group than in C group (P < 0.01). The pathological changes were aggravated significantly in P group. The longer the time, the severer the pathological changes. The intestinal MPO activities were significantly higher in P group than in C group (P < 0.01). The blood flow of intestine was significantly higher in T group than in P group after 2 h (P < 0.01). The pathological changes were alleviated significantly in T group. MPO activities were significantly lower in T group than in P group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). There was a negative correlation between intestinal blood flow and MPO activity (r = -0.981, P < 0.01) as well as between intestinal blood flow and pathologic scores (r = -0.922, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
MCD is an important factor for intestinal injury in ANP. TMP can ameliorate the condition of MCD and the damage to pancreas and intestine.
Zhang
Jian-Xin
JX
Department of General Surgery, the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212001, Jiangsu Province, China. dscgu@ujs.edu.cn.
Dang
Sheng-Chun
SC
Qu
Jian-Guo
JG
Wang
Xue-Qing
XQ
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D010179:Pancreas / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D019283:Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
D011719:Pyrazines; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009195:Peroxidase; C017953:tetramethylpyrazine