Organ Microcirculatory Disturbances in Experimental Acute Pancreatitis. A Role of Nitric Oxide

M. DOBOSZ, S. HAC1, L. MIONSKOWSKA, D. DYMECKI¹,
S. DOBROWOLSKI¹, Z. WAJDA¹

Department of General and Gastroenterological Surgery, St. Vincent a’Paulo Hospital, Gdynia and ¹Department of General Endocrine and Transplant Surgery, Medical University, Gdańsk, Poland

Received May 4, 2004
Accepted September 24, 2004
On-line available December 9, 2004

Summary
Microcirculatory disturbances are important early pathophysiological events in various organs during acute pancreatitis (AP). The aim of the study was to investigate an influence of L-arginine (nitric oxide substrate) and NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA, nitric oxide synthase inhibitor) on organ microcirculation in experimental acute pancreatitis induced by four consecutive intraperitoneal cerulein injections (15 μg/kg/h). The microcirculation of pancreas, liver, kidney, stomach, colon and skeletal muscle was measured by laser Doppler flowmeter. Serum interleukin 6 and hematocrit levels were analyzed. AP resulted in a significant drop of microperfusion in all examined organ. L-arginine administration
(2x100 mg/kg) improved the microcirculation in the pancreas, liver, kidney, colon and skeletal muscle, and lowered hematocrit levels. L-NNA treatment (2x25 mg/kg) caused aggravation of edematous AP to the necrotizing situation, and increased IL-6 and hematocrit levels. A further reduction of blood perfusion was noted in the stomach only. It is concluded that L-arginine administration has a positive influence on organ microcirculatory disturbances accompanying experimental cerulein-induced AP. NO inhibition aggravates the course of pancreatitis.

Key words
Acute pancreatitis • Microcirculation • Nitric oxide