title: Intestinal capillary endothelial barrier changes in severe acute pancreatitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study changes of the small intestine capillary endothelial barrier during severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) in a rat model.
  
  
  METHODS
  A SAP rat model was created, serum and ascites albumin and amylase were measured, and the Evans blue assay was used to measure intestinal capillary leakage. Capillary endothelial barrier changes were examined via electron microscopy. Intestinal VASP and MMP-9 expression was determined by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An increase of small intestinal capillary leakage was observed in SAP rats. Widened gaps between small intestinal capillary endothelial cells and swelling and fracture of the basement membrane were found. VASP expression at 12 hours was significantly greater than at >6 hours; however, expression at 24 hours was significantly less than at 12 hours (both, p<0.05). Increased MMP-9 mRNA and protein expression in intestinal tissues was observed. MMP-9 expression at 12 hours was significantly greater than at 6 hours; however, expression at 24 hours was significantly less than at 12 hours (both p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MMP-9, which may be upregulated during SAP, may lead to degradation of the capillary endothelial basement membrane. Increased VASP may result in rearrangement of the endothelial cytoskeleton, which can change capillary endothelial cell connections.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Union Hospital, Fujian Medical University, No. 29, Xnquan road, Fuzhou, Fujian 350001, China.
authors.forename: Fengchun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Heguang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yanchang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D002199:Capillary Permeability; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000235:genetics; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D010766:Phosphorylation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D000098662:Vasodilator-Stimulated Phosphoprotein
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000098662:Vasodilator-Stimulated Phosphoprotein; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9