The experimental study of pancreatic acinar cell apoptosis in acute pancreatitis rats

Objective:To explore pancreatic acina cell apoptosis in rats with acute pancreatitis (AP).Methods:48 rats were randomaly divided into two groups, AP group (n=24) and sham operation (SO) group (n=24). The model of AP was induced by retrograde injection of 4% sodium taurocholate into biliopancreatic duct in rats. At 3h,6h,14h and 12h, groups of rats (n=6) were sacrificed by cercial dislocation. A terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP biotion nick end labeling (TUNEL) method was used to detect apoptosis of pancreatic acinar cell and apoptosis index (AI) was evaluated.Results:Very few apoptoic acinar cells were found in SO rats. Extensive and time dependent pancreatic acinar cell apoptosis were found after AP was induced. The valuels of AI gradually rose, a maximal value presented at 6h and then declined rapidly, close to the SO level at 24h. AI of AP rats at 3h, 6h and 12h, compared with that of SO group, was significantly higher (P0.01).Conclusion:The fact that apoptosis of pancreatic cell does exist and that pancreatic cell undergoes apoptosis maybe an important pathologic feature during AP.