title: Effect of low molecular weight heparin on pancreatic micro-circulation in severe acute pancreatitis in a rodent model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alleviation of microcirculation disorders in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) can improve survival rates, and low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) is well known to have potent ameliorative effect on microcirculation disorders caused by anti-coagulant activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of LMWH on pancreatic microcirculation in SAP in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham operation (S) group, SAP group, and LMWH treatment (LT) group. The concentrations of serum amylase, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), endothelin-1 (ET-1), pancreatic ultrastructure were examined at 24 hours after the models were set up in each group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with S group, the concentration of serum amylase, ET-1, and TNF-alpha in SAP group were significantly increased (P < 0.001); After LMWH treatment, the concentration of serum amylase, ET-1, TNF-alpha were decreased significantly compared with SAP group (P < 0.001, 0.01, 0.001, respectively). On electron microscopy, the microthrombosis in LT group was significantly less than that in SAP group. The 3-day survival rate in SAP group (25.0%) was significantly lower than that in S group (100.0%, P < 0.05) and in LT group (87.5%, P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The disorder of pancreatic microcirculation may be involved in the inflammatory response of rats with SAP. LMWH can effectively improve the survival rate of SAP, and alleviate the severity of microcirculation disorders through its antithrombin effects and down-regulate the levels of serum ET-1 and TNF-alpha.
authors.affiliation: Xiangya Transplantation Medical Academy, Xiangya Third Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China.
authors.forename: Fu
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Xin-sheng
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Lü
authors.forename: Yu-kun
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010179:Pancreas / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015996:Survival Rate; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D019332:Endothelin-1; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha