Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
Corresponding author:
Yong-Tae Kim,
ABSTRACT
Studies in animal models suggest that oxygen-derived free radicals may be important in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis. Because α-tocopherol is an effective antioxidant in stabilizing unsaturated lipid against auto-oxidation, we investigated whether oxygen radicals play a role in cellular injury of cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in mouse and whether α-tocopherol could ameliorate the course of pancreatitis. Cerulein was given into the peritoneal cavity in high dose (50 μg/kg/hr) over a period of 6 hours. α-tocopherol was given in a dose (10 mg/kg/day) over a period of 4 days before cerulein injections. Mice treated with α-tocopherol were found to have lower serum amylase levels compared with mice treated with cerulein alone. But there was not a significant difference in the degree of pancreatic edema between the pancreatitis group and α-tocopherol treated group. Pancreatic MDA levels of the pancreatitis group were elevated more than those of the control group. In conclusion, oxygen radicals may play a role on cellular injury of cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in mouse, and α-tocopherol ameliorates the course of pancreatitis.
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