The effect of early used high-dose vitamin C on NF-κB of rats with serious acute pancreatitis

Objective To observe the effect of early application of high-dose vitamin C on NF-!B of rats with serious acute pancreatitis and to study its mechanism. Methods A total of 72 SAP rats were equally divided into 3 groups, and 8 healthy rats were taken as normal controls. Group A: given NS (5 ml/kg) through vein;. Group B: given NS (5 ml/kg) and vitamin C(15 ml/kg) intravenously; Group C: given NS (5 ml/kg) and vitamin C (150 mg/kg) intravenously. Eight and 24 hours after induction of rats, 8 rats of each group were sacrificed and blood samples were taken for the mea- surement of serum amylase, lipase, SOD, PV-C, TNF-αand IL-6. Pathological study and NF-!B activity in the pancreas were detected by immuno-histochemical methods. The survival rate in 3 days of other 8 rats of each group was observed. Results The survival rate of each group was 100%(8/8) in normal group, 0%(0/8) in Group A, 12.5 %(1/8) in Group B, and 50 %(4/8) in Group C. The pathological scores of the pancreas were much higher in SAP rats than that in the normal group. The survival pathological scores and the activity of NF-!B of the pancreas were lower in Group C than that in Groups A and B. The serum level of amylase, lipase, TNF-αand IL-6 were much higher in SAP rats than that in the normal group and low- er in Group C than that in Groups A and B. The serum level of SOD and PV-C were lower in SAP rats than that in the nor- mal group, while much higher in Group C than that in Groups A and B. Conclusions Early usage of high-dose vitamin Cfor the treatment of SAP rats is effective in raising the level of SOD and PV-C,and in inhibiting the activity of NF-B.Theinhibition of the activity of NF-B might be a promising strategy in treating SAP by down-regulating the free radicals andcytokines in the body.