ROLE OF LOCAL PANCREATIC BLOOD-FLOW IN DEVELOPMENT OF HEMORRHAGIC-PANCREATITIS INDUCED BY STRESS IN RATS

Our previous data showed that the pancreatitis induced in rats by ceru lein develops into hemorrhagic pancreatitis following water-immersion stress. The present study examined the effects of water-immersion stre ss and high doses of cerulein (intraperitoneal injection) on pancreati c blood flow. Five hours of water-immersion stress reduced the local p ancreatic blood flow to approximately 30% of the initial value (253.75 +/- 12.58 ml/min/100 g) without causing any histological alterations. Blood flow was decreased as early as 1 h after the immersion and reac hed the lowest value (30% of initial value) 3 h after the immersion. T he administration of 40 mug/kg body wt cerulein as two intraperitoneal injections reduced the pancreatic blood flow by 40% 5 h after the fir st cerulein injection. The injections of cerulein combined with water- immersion stress did not reduce the pancreatic blood flow more than di d water-immersion stress alone. The systemic blood pressure was unaffe cted during 5 h of water immersion after the cerulein injections. Thes e findings suggest that in rats the stress-induced decrease of local p ancreatic blood flow may not produce pancreatitis, but may aggravate a n existing acute pancreatitis.