Objective：To investigate the therapeutic effects of angiopoietin-1 for acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) complicating pancreatic encephalopathy in mice.
Methods：Fifty-four Bal b/c mice were equally randomized into control group, acute necrotizing pancreatitis group and ANP with Ang-1 treatment group. Each group was further equally divided into 3 subgroups to collect the specimens at 9,18 and 24 h, respectively. The ANP model of mouse was induced by intraperitoneal injection of caerulein (50 μg/kg, once hourly, 7 times), the mice of control group were given the same volume of saline in the same administration regimen, and the mice of the Ang-1 treatment group received intraperitoneal injection of Ang-1 (100 μg/kg) after ANP induction. The mice of each group were sacrificed at each predefined time point. The serum levels of amylase (AMY), IL-6 and TNF-α were measured, the histopathological changes of pancreatic tissue were examined and graded with a scoring criterion. Meanwhile, the brain malondialdehyde (MDA) level, brain water content and leukocyte count of the cerebral microvasculature were also determined.
Results：Compared with the control group, the serum levels of AMY, IL-6 and TNF-α, the histopathological score of pancreatic tissue, brain MDA level and water content, and leukocyte count of the cerebral microvasculature of the other two groups at each time point were all significantly increased (all P＜0.05). Except for the brain MDA level (P＞0.05), all the parameters of the Ang-1 treatment group were significantly improved compared with ANP group (all P＜0.05).
Conclusions：Ang-1 has protective effect on ANP and ANP-induced brain injury as well.