Basic Research
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2004. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jul 15, 2004; 10(14): 2095-2098
Published online Jul 15, 2004. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v10.i14.2095
Role of COX-2 in microcirculatory disturbance in experimental pancreatitis
Wen-Wei Yan, Zong-Guang Zhou, You-Dai Chen, Hong-Kai Gao
Wen-Wei Yan, III Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China & Department of Organ Transplantation of Tianjin First Central Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
Zong-Guang Zhou, III Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
You-Dai Chen, Hong-Kai Gao, Institute of Degestive Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 39770722
Correspondence to: Dr. Zong-Guang Zhou, III Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China. zhou767@21cn.com
Telephone: +86-28-85422525 Fax: +86-28-85422484
Received: February 11, 2004
Revised: February 15, 2004
Accepted: February 18, 2004
Published online: July 15, 2004
Abstract

AIM: To elucidate the role of COX-2 in the development of capillary leakage in rats with acute interstitial pancreatitis.

METHODS: Rats with acute interstitial pancreatitis were induced by caerulein subcutaneous injection. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to determine the gene expression of COX-2 in pancreatic tissues, spectrophotometry was used to assay the parameters of acute pancreatitis such as the serum amylase and plasma myeloperoxidase, and determination of capillary permeability in the pancreas by quantifying the permeability index (PI) assisted response of pancreatic microvascular via intravital fluorescence microscope video image analysis system.

RESULTS: A significant increase of COX-2 expression, elevation of serum amylase, and plasma myeloperoxidase were detected in rats with acute edematous pancreatitis compared with control rats. The changes of pancreatic microvascular after caerulein injection were as following: (a) the decrease of pancreatic capillary blood flow (4th h, 0.56 ± 0.09 nL/min, P < 0.05; 8 th h, 0.34 ± 0.10 nL/min, P < 0.001); (b) reduction of functional capillary density (4 th h, 381 ± 9 cm-1, P > 0.05; 8th h, 277 ± 13 cm-1, P < 0.001); (c) irregular and intermittent capillary perfusion was observed at the 8th h and these vessels were also prone to permeation.

CONCLUSION: COX-2 plays an important role in mediating capillary permeability in pancreatitis, thereby contributing to capillary leakage.

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