T. Tanyalcin et al., THE ENDOGENOUS SCAVENGERS IN CERULEIN-INDUCED ACUTE-PANCREATITIS, European journal of clinical chemistry and clinical biochemistry, 33(4), 1995, pp. 195-199
Studies in animal models suggest that oxygen radicals are important in
the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis. Cerulein, a decapeptide isola
ted from the skin of the frog, Hyla caerula, is closely related to the
C-terminus of cholecystokinin and it is a potent stimulant of pancrea
tic exocrine secretion. The aim of the present study was to measure th
e activity of endogenous scavengers, superoxide dismutase, catalase an
d glutathione levels in cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in rats. W
e found that the plasma amylase and ribonuclease levels in the pancrea
titis group were both significantly high (p < 0.01, p < 0.05, respecti
vely) when compared with the control group. Although superoxide dismut
ase and glutathione levels of pancreatic tissue were decreased signifi
cantly (p < 0.01, p < 0.01 respectively), we observed a significant in
crease (p < 0.01) in catalase activity in the cerulein treated group c
ompared to the control group. Therefore, we concluded that the profoun
d alteration of the activities of endogenous scavengers (superoxide di
smutase, catalase) and glutathione depletion occuring after cerulein-i
nduced pancreatitis seemed to be important in tissue injury and may pr
ovide the basis for successful therapy of the disease.