EXPERIMENTAL PANCREATITIS

Investigators employ animal models of pancreatitis for two principal r easons: to answer questions regarding the pathophysiology and cellular biology of the disease and to test novel treatment modalities. The pa st year has seen progress in both fields. Factors that determine vascu lar blood flow and coagulation have been the focus of much attention. Premature protease activation, generation of oxygen radicals, and etha nol toxicity have been investigated to characterize further their role s in triggering pathophysiologic events. New models that mimic a galls tone-induced or autoimmune pathogenesis of pancreatitis have emerged o r gained ground. The mechanisms involved in pancreatic regeneration re main a subject of ongoing controversy.