CHANGES IN RENAL-FUNCTION IN ACUTE EXPERIMENTAL PANCREATITIS IN RATS - A THERAPEUTIC ROLE FOR SOMATOSTATIN

1. The present study was designed to determine the changes in renal fu nction in two models of experimental pancreatitis in rats, in an attem pt to assess the possible pathogenic role of reactive oxygen species a nd to elucidate a possible therapeutic role for somatostatin. 2. Mild pancreatitis was induced by low blockade of the biliary duct and sever e pancreatitis was evoked by retrograde infusion of bile salts. Renal function was studied by clearance techniques in rats with pancreatitis , treated or not treated with somatostatin. Plasma and glomerular malo nyldialdehyde levels were measured by the thiobarbituric acid method. 3. Renal function did not change in rats with low blockade of the bili ary duct, but animals receiving a retrograde infusion of bile salts sh owed a significant decrease in glomerular filtration rate and renal pl asma flow with respect to sham-operated animals. 4. Plasma malonyldial dehyde levels increased significantly in rats treated with bile salts with respect to control animals, whereas no changes were detected in g lomerular malonyldialdehyde levels. Thus, the renal dysfunction does n ot seem to be related to an increased production of reactive oxygen me tabolites at the glomerular level. 5. Somatostatin infusion significan tly improved renal function in rats with severe pancreatitis (retrogra de infusion of bile salts) by increasing glomerular filtration, rate, renal plasma flow and filtration fraction. These results support a pos sible therapeutic role for somatostatin in the renal dysfunction assoc iated with the severe forms of pancreatitis.