title: Validation of a novel, physiologic model of experimental acute pancreatitis in the mouse.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many experimental models of acute pancreatitis suffer from lack of clinical relevance. We sought to validate a recently reported murine model of acute pancreatitis that more closely represents the physiology of human biliary pancreatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mice (C57BL/6J n=6 and CF-1 n=8) underwent infusion of 50μl of 5% sodium taurocholate (NaT) or 50μl of normal saline (NaCl) directly into the pancreatic duct. Twenty-four hours later, pancreatitis severity was graded histologically by three independent observers, and pancreatic tissue concentration of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) were determined by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty four hours after retrograde injection, the total pancreatitis score was significantly greater in mice infused with NaT than in those infused with NaCl (6.3 ± 1.2 vs. 1.2 ± 0.4, p<0.05). In addition, the inflammatory mediators IL-6 and MCP-1 were increased in the NaT group relative to the NaCl group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Retrograde pancreatic duct infusion of sodium taurocholate induces acute pancreatitis in the mouse. This model is likely representative of human biliary pancreatitis pathophysiology, and therefore provides a powerful tool with which to elucidate basic mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Indiana University Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Kathryn M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Ziegler
authors.forename: Terence E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Wade
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Deborah A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Swartz-Basile
authors.forename: Henry A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Pitt
authors.forename: Nicholas J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Zyromski