Pathomorphological changes in microcirculation of pancreas during experimental acute pancreatitis

Background/Aims: Severe acute pancreatitis is prevalent in Eastern Bohemia (a part of the Czech Republic) and remains a very difficult problem to mana ge. Recent studies in treatment there are quite frequent but a direct view into the pancreas during its inflammatory process is very rare. Only inform ation about a normal pancreatic microvascular bed appears to be available. This study was designed to explore pathomorphological changes in pancreatic microcirculation at the start and during the development of acute pancreat itis. Methodology: a group of 50 laboratory white rats was studied. The acute pan creatitis was induced by the modified method of Siech et al. The method of clamping of biliopancreatic duct and stimulation of external secretory tiss ue by a cholecystokinin and secretin and oral (orogastric tube) ethanol adm inistration was performed. The pancreatic microvascular patterns were obser ved by using histochemical and corrosion casts methods. Results: The study of the corrosion casts of pancreatic microcirculation in the scanning electron microscope and histochemical studies demonstrated th e visible reduction of the pancreatic microvascular bed 18 hours after indu ction of acute pancreatitis. The microvascular bed is not fully destroyed u ntil 48 hours of acute pancreatitis. Conclusions: The model of acute pancreatitis using postoperative applicatio n of ethanol to the digestive tract after stimulation of pancreas by cholec ystokinine and secretin in the rats seems to be real and useful. The study of the corrosion casts of microcirculation in the scanning electr on microscope and histochemical studies demonstrated the visible reduction of the pancreatic microvascular bed 18 hours after induction of acute pancr eatitis. The microvascular bed is not fully destroyed until 48 hours of run ning acute pancreatitis, as some "islets" of the vital tissue still have un destroyed microvessels at this time. Despite the above-mentioned serious changes, restricted pancreatic microcir culation enables blood and medicament distribution to the still intact panc reatic tissue.