Relationship between hypocalcemia and tumor necrosis factor α in severe acute pancreatitis rats

Objective To investigate the correlation between serum tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and calcium level in the severe acute pancreatitis (SAP).Methods SAP animal model was developed in adult male rats by retrograde injection of 5% sodium taurocholate.Sixty-three male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into sham operation group ( n =21),SAP group ( n =21),SAP therapy group ( n =21).In SAP therapy group,TNF-αMcAb (5 mg/kg) was infused intravenously 15 min before acute pancreatitis was induced.The levels of serum TNF-α and calcium were tested in different time points.TNF-α was determined by ELISA.Results The level of TNF-α had a close relation to that of serum calcium in the SAP ( r = -0.69, P 0.01), especially at the initial stage (6 h, r = -0.73, P 0.01). Pretreatment with TNFα McAb could alleviate the pancreatic pathological change,decrease serum amylase and TNF-α.The serum calcium level in the groups of TNF-α McAb pretreatment was 2.06± 0.06 and 1.94± 0.05 mmol/L respectively 6 and 12 h after SAP onset,significantly higher than that in the groups of SAP ( P 0.05). Conclusion TNF-α may play a role in the mechanism of hypocalcemia with SAP,especially at the initial stage of SAP.