Pancreas and liver damage of acute necrotizing pancreatitis rats under hypoxia plateau

Objective To investigate the extent of pancreatic and liver function damage of acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) rats under altitude hypoxia environment, and to provide a reference for better diagnosis and treatment of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) in the plateau region. Methods Ninety-six specific pathogen free (SPF) Wistar male rats were involved in 1 500 meters, 3 300 meters and 4 300 meters altitude. The model of ANP was established by using pancreatic capsule injection of sodium taurocholate (Na-Tc). In the sham operation group, the rats′ belly was opened and closed after only flipping its pancreas several times. Rats in sham group were sacrificed at 6 h, and ANP group were sacrificed at 6, 12, 24 h after modeling. Serum amylase activity was measured, and pancreas and liver tissue were harvested for pathological examination and score. Results Serum amylase activity in sham operation group rats was not remarkably changed, and pathological changes of pancreas and liver were not obvious. At same altitude, serum amylase activity, pancreas and liver pathology score of ANP rats at each time point were significantly higher than those in the sham operation group; and serum amylase activity, pancreas and liver pathology scores of ANP 12, 24 h group rats were significantly higher than those of ANP 6h group; and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). At 3 300 meters, 4 300 meters altitude, the pancreas and liver pathology scores of ANP rats at each time point were significantly higher than those at 1 500 meters altitude, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05), but the difference in serum amylase activity was not statistically significant. Conclusions With the increase of altitude, pancreatic and liver pathological damage of ANP rats shows continuing aggravation. Key words: Pancreatitis, acute necrotizing; Plateau; Anoxia; Rats; Liver injury