TEMPORAL RELATIONSHIP OF ACINAR AND MICROVASCULAR CHANGES IN CERULEIN-INDUCED PANCREATITIS

A study in rats investigated the temporal relationship between acinar cell changes and alterations in the local microvasculature in oedemato us pancreatitis produced by administration of caerulein 5 mug kg-1 h-1 . Samples were taken from experimental and control animals after 15 mi n, 30 min, 1 h and 2 h of caerulein infusion. Transmission electron mi croscopy showed ultrastructural acinar cell changes after 15 min where as the earliest microvascular changes were seen after 30 min. Ultrastr uctural alterations in the acinar cells thus preceded local microvascu lar changes. Microvascular distortion appears to be a consequence and not a cause of pancreatitis in the caerulein model.