Protective Effect of Resveratrol in Severe Acute Pancreatitis-Induced Brain Injury

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to study the effects of resveratrol on severe acute pancreatitis (SAP)-induced brain injury. METHODS: Ninety-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 equal groups: sham operation, SAP, resveratrol-treated (RES), and dexamethasone-treated. Each group was evaluated at 3, 6, and 12 hours. Levels of serum myelin basic protein and zonula occludens 1 (Zo-1) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The brain and pancreatic tissues were examined using electron microscopy. Expressions of Bax, Bcl-2, and caspase-3 were observed using immunohistochemistry, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, and Western blotting. Cytochrome c was detected using Western blotting alone. RESULTS: Myelin basic protein and Zo-1 levels of the RES group were lower than the SAP group at all time points (P < 0.05). The RES group had significantly improved pathologic brain, increase in Bcl-2 expression, and decrease in Bax and caspases-3 expressions compared with the SAP group. CONCLUSIONS: The degradation of Zo-1 is involved in the pathophysiology of brain injury in SAP; MBP can be used as a marker of brain injury in SAP. The protective effect of resveratrol might be associated with the up-regulation of Bcl-2 and down-regulation of Bax and caspase-3.