Protective effect of Shenfu injection against intestinal barrier dysfunction and second hit in rats with severe acute pancreatitis

Objective:To evaluate the protective effect of Shenfu injection(SFI) against intestinal barrier dysfunction and second hit in rats with severe acute pancreatitis(SAP).Methods:Fifty-four male Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham operation group(n=6),SAP group(n=24),and SAP+SFI group(10 ml/kg body wt,n=24).Sham operation group underwent laparotomy only.SAP model was established by retrograde injection of 5% sodium taurocholate into the bili-pancreatic duct of Wistar rats.SAP+SFI group was given SFI(10 ml/kg) intaperitoneally 2 h before SAP establishment.Rats were sacrificed at 3,6,12 and 24 hours after operation.The samples of pancreas,lung and liver were collected for measuring the levels of myeloperoxidase(MPO) at 3,6,12,and 24 h after injection of sodium taurocholate.The pathological changes of the terminal ilea were observed under light microscopy,and the blood levels of diamine oxidase(DAO),tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-α) and interleukin-6(IL-6) were also measured at different time points.Results:The blood levels of TNF-α,IL-6 and DAO in SAP group were significantly higher than those in the sham operation group at all time points(P0.01).The levels of intrapulmonary,intrapancreatic and intrahepatic MPO in SAP group were significantly than those in the sham operation group at 6,12,and 24 hours(P0.01).The contents of DAO,TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly decreased in SAP+SFI group compared with in SAP group at all time points(P0.05 or P0.01).The contents of intrapulmonary,intrapancreatic and intrahepatic MPO were significantly decreased in SAP+SFI group compared with SAP group at 6,12,and 24 h after operation(P0.05 or P0.01).Intestinal pathological damages were obviously milder in SAP+SFI group than that in SAP group at 24 h after operation.Conclusion:SFI can protect the small intestine mucosal barrier and other organs from second hit by reducing the polymorphonuclear leucocyte detaining and inhibiting TNF-α and IL-6.