A simple taurocholate-induced model of severe acute pancreatitis in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate gut barrier damage and intestinal bacteria translocation in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), a simple rat model of SAP was induced and studied.


METHODS
Pancreatitis was induced by uniformly distributed injection of 3.8% Na taurocholate (1 mL/kg) beneath the pancreatic capsule. Rats in the control group were injected with normal saline in the identical location.


RESULTS
Serum amylase, plasma endotoxin, intestinal permeability, and pancreatitis pathology scores were all markedly higher in the pancreatitis group than in the control group (P < 0.01). The bacterial infection rate was significantly higher in the SAP group than in the control group (P < 0.01), observed in parallel by both bacterial culture and real-time polymerase chain reaction. Acute damage of the pancreas was observed histologically in SAP rats, showing interstitial edema, leukocyte infiltration, acinar cell necrosis and hemorrhage. The microstructure of the intestinal mucosa of SAP rats appeared to be destroyed with loose, shortened microvilli and rupture of the intercellular junction, as shown by electron microscopy.


CONCLUSIONS
Significant gut barrier damage and intestinal bacterial translocation were definitely observed with few potential study confounders in this SAP rat model, suggesting that it may be an appropriate animal model for study of gut barrier damage and bacterial translocation in SAP.
Liu
Zhong-Hui
ZH
Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
Peng
Jun-Sheng
JS
Li
Chu-Jun
CJ
Yang
Zu-Li
ZL
Xiang
Jun
J
Song
Hu
H
Wu
Xiao-Bing
XB
Chen
Jun-Rong
JR
Diao
De-Chang
DC
D000818:Animals; D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010179:Pancreas / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D013656:Taurocholic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*
D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics; D013656:Taurocholic Acid