Epidermal growth factor prevents bacterial translocation in rats with acute pancreatitis

Objective: To evaluate the protective effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on intestinal barrier functionin rats with acute pancreatitis. Methods: Thirty-two male SD rats received injection of sodium taurocholate solution(3. 5 mg·L-1) into the pancreatic duct were randomly divided into control group (n=16) and treatment group (n=16). Animals incontrol group received total parenteral nutrition (TPN), animals in treatment group were fed on the same TPN formula ascontrol group and injections of EGF at a dose of 0. 2 mg' kg l' day--'. Rats were sacrificed on d 1 and d 5 of TPN. Concen-tration of xylose and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran in superior mesenteric vein (SMV), protein and DNA contentin je junal mucosa were determined. Samples from SMV, mesenteric lymph nodes, pancreas, liver, spleen were harvested forcultures. Results: FITC-dextran concentration in treatment group was significantly lower than in control group [(3. 4±0. 7)vs (7. 5±0. 9) mg. L-1, P＜0. 0l]. Protein and DNA content in je junal mucosa in treatment group were significantly higherthan in control group [(2. 65±0. 23) vs (1. 12±0. 18) mg· cm-1, (0. 25±0. 07) vs (0. 12±0. 04) mg·cm-1, P0. 01].Positive cultures in liver and spleen in treatment group were significantly lower than in control group (37.5 % vs 100%, 25%vs 100%, P0.05). Conclusion: EGF may prevent the increase of intestinal permeability and bacterial translocation duringTPN in rats with acute pancreatitis.