Expression of apoptosis-regulated genes bax and bcl-2 in pancreatitis-associated adrenal injury in rats with acute pancreatitis

Objective To investigate apoptosis and expression of apoptosis-regulated genes bcl-2 and bax protein in adrenal injury in acute pancreatitis (AP) rats.Methods AP model was induced by retrograde injection of 5％ sodium taurocholate into the bilipancreatic duct.At 3,6,and 12 h after operation,pathological changes of the adrenal were observed under light and electron microscopes,apoptosis of the adrenal cells was determined by TUNEL method,and protein expression of bcl-2 and bax was detected by immunohistochemical staining.Results Serum corticosterone level at 3 h after AP was significantly higher than in SO group,then gradually decreased ( P ＜ 0.05 ).With the duration extension of AP,apoptosis index of adrenal cells and protein expression of bax were significantly elevated ( P ＜ 0.05 ),the ratio of bax to bcl-2 was increased gradually and positively correlated with apoptosis index (r =0.759,P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusion bcl-2 and bax may be involved in the pathogenesis of adrenal injury in AP rats.Activation of bcl2 and inhibition of bax protein expression may enable to reduce cell apoptosis,protect the structure and function of the adrenal gland,which may provide a basis for drug and gene therapy of pancreatitis and associated adrenal injury. Key words: Acute pancreatitis; Adrenal gland injury; Apoptosis