title: Morphological and immunobiochemical analysis of the liver in L-arginine induced experimental chronic pancreatitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Clinical evidence indicates that hepatic abnormalities in patients with chronic pancreatitis are not uncommon. Here we aimed to study the possible association between liver and pancreatic damage in a recently described experimental mouse model of CP.
  
  
  METHODS
  The severity of the damage to pancreas, liver and other organs was assessed by biochemical markers and histopathology. The methods applied included Hematoxylin Eosin staining, electron microscope examination, biochemical measurements, RT-PCR, ELISA, and the correlations among some of the parameters contributing to these changes were statistically analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The hepatic aberrations were mainly represented by mild infiltration of inflammatory cells in portal triad and congestion of central vein of liver, and the main features of drug-induced hepatotoxicity could not be observed. Severe fibrosis of pancreatic tissue was noticed in experimental group, and the existence of multiple organ injuries was also seen under the microscope. Hepatic pathologic scores were positively correlated with those from the corresponding pancreatic specimens (r = 0.72, P < 0.01). TGF-β1 protein levels significantly elevated both in the test pancreas and liver (P < 0.05) and these values were positively correlated (r = 0.86, P < 0.01). The level of interleukin-1β was increased in the serum and tissue of the liver. In addition, cardiac troponin (Tn-I) level not only significantly increased in myocardial homogenates (P < 0.05) but also was positively correlated with the corresponding pathologic score of the liver (r = 0.88, P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The liver aberrations might be associated with L-arginine induced chronic pancreatitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, PR China. No.9, West Section, Lu Shun, Dalian P.C. 116044, Liaoning, PR China.
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, PR China. No.9, West Section, Lu Shun, Dalian P.C. 116044, Liaoning, PR China.
authors.forename: Yicong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, PR China. No.9, West Section, Lu Shun, Dalian P.C. 116044, Liaoning, PR China.
authors.forename: Fengyu
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, PR China. No.9, West Section, Lu Shun, Dalian P.C. 116044, Liaoning, PR China.
authors.forename: Jiuping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, PR China. No.9, West Section, Lu Shun, Dalian P.C. 116044, Liaoning, PR China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, PR China. No.9, West Section, Lu Shun, Dalian P.C. 116044, Liaoning, PR China.
authors.forename: Liwei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, PR China. No.9, West Section, Lu Shun, Dalian P.C. 116044, Liaoning, PR China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, PR China. No.9, West Section, Lu Shun, Dalian P.C. 116044, Liaoning, PR China.
authors.forename: Guoqing
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, PR China. No.9, West Section, Lu Shun, Dalian P.C. 116044, Liaoning, PR China.
authors.forename: Jianming
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, PR China. No.9, West Section, Lu Shun, Dalian P.C. 116044, Liaoning, PR China. Electronic address: Junwangw@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000633:toxicity*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007120:Immunochemistry / Q000379:methods; D007668:Kidney / Q000502:physiology; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D050500:Pancreatitis, Chronic / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D001120:Arginine
keywords: Acute pancreatitis; Chronic pancreatitis (CP); Hepatotoxicity; L-arginine