Regulated expression of pancreatic renin-angiotensin system in experimental pancreatitis

Our previous studies have provided evidence for the existence of an intrins ic renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in the rat pancreas, which may play a rol e in the regulation of pancreatic microcirculation and ductal secretion. Su ch a pancreatic RAS has recently shown to be activated by chronic hypoxia. The activation of a local RAS ill the pancreas by chronic hypoxia and its s ignificance of changes may be important for the physiological and pathophys iological aspects of the pancreas. In the present study, the regulation of experimentally induced acute pancreatitis on the expression of local RAS in the pancreas was investigated using Western blot, semi-quantitative revers e transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemical approaches. Results from Western blot demonstrated that experimentally indu ced pancreatitis caused significantly increased expression of the pancreati c RAS component proteins. In keeping with the protein level, RT-PCR analysi s also revealed the enhanced expression of pancreatic RAS genes, notably th e angiotensinogen in experimental pancreatitis. Immunohistochemical results Further demonstrated that increased immunoreactivity for RAS in experiment al pancreatitis was predominantly localized to the endothelia and epithelia of pancreatic vasculature and ductal system respectively. The data indicat e that experimental pancreatitis may elicit activation of a local RAS in th e pancreas. Such an activation of pancreatic RAS and its significance of di fferential changes in individual RAS components could play a role in the pa thophysiology of acute pancreatitis (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.