DETERIORATING INFLUENCE OF IMMUNOSUPPRESSANTS ON CERULEIN-INDUCED PANCREATITIS IN MICE

This study purposed to examine the effects of cyclosporin A (CsA) and FK506 on edematous pancreatitis induced by caerulein (CER), and it dem onstrated that CsA alone accelerated the progress of pancreatic edema, and enhanced CER-induced hyperamylasemia. Moreover, CsA made the redu ction of pancreatic dry/wet weight ratio and the increase of serum amy lase levels more pronounced. Neither CsA nor FK506 when administered s ingly produced edema or hyperamylasemia. We concluded that neither CsA nor FK506 given alone will induce acute pancreatitis. By contrast, bo th immunosuppressants can adversely affect the course of acute edemato us pancreatitis. The results imply that the deteriorating effect of FK 506 is less potent than that of CsA.