Hepatic involvement in pancreatitis-induced lung damage.
Closa, D., M. Bardaj[acute]i, G. Hotter, N. Prats, E. Gelp[acute]i, L.
Fern[acute]andez-Cruz, J. Rosell[acute]o-Catafau.
Dept. of Medical Bioanalysis, Centro de Investigaci[acute]on y
Desarrollo, CSIC, Barcelona, Spain, Dept. of Surgery, Hospital
Cl[acute]inic, University of Barcelona, Spain, Dept. of Animal
Pathology, Veterinary School, Universitat Aut[acute]onoma de
Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
APStracts 2:0131G, 1995.
The role of liver in the respiratory dysfunction associated with acute
pancreatitis has been evaluated. For this purpose, an experimental
necrohemorrhagic pancreatitis was induced in rats by intraductal
administration of 3.5% sodium taurocholate. Additionally, a porto
-caval shunt was performed before induction of acute pancreatitis in
order to prevent the initial passage through the liver of substances
released by the pancreas. 12 hours after the induction of
pancreatitis, increases in lung prostacyclin and thromboxane B2
synthesis, decreased lung superoxide dismutase activity and increases
in plasma phospholipase A2 activity were found. In addition,
inflammatory injury was evidenced in lung by histopathological
analysis. The porto-caval shunt was able to prevent the metabolic
changes, and ameliorate the inflammatory process in the lung,
suggesting that the liver play an active role in the systemic
inflammatory response to acute pancreatitis.
Received 13 July 1994; accepted in final form 16 June 1995.
APS Manuscript Number G265-4.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Gastrointest. Liver
Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1995 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 11 July 1995.