The behaviour of prostanoids during the course of acute experimental pancreatitis in rats

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Abstract
The behavior of two vasoactive prostanoids was studied in experimental acute pancreatitis (AP) in rats. The stable metabolites of prostacyclin (PGI2) and thromboxane A2 (TXA2), 6-keto-PGF1α and TXB2, respectively, were measured during the course of experimental AP. Blood samples were taken at 3, 6, and 8h after the induction of AP. In AP both plasma 6-keto-PGF1α plasma TXB2 and serum TXB2 increased up to 6 h simultaneously (6-keto-PGF1α from 271.1 ± 77.2 pg/ml (mean ± SD) to 459.4 ± 192.6 pg/ml, plasma TXB2 from 752 ± 350 pg/ml to 3640 ± 2160 pg/ml and serum TXB2 from 22.3 ± 14.8 µg/ml to 140.8 ± 52.8 µg/ml). After 6h 6-keto-PGF1α remained elevated, whereas serum TXB2 dropped significantly. We suggest that in AP the balance of PGI2 and TXA2 is initially maintained, but later on an imbalance appears to favor vasodilatory PGI2. These agents may contribute to the regulation of the blood flow in the pancreas and thus play a role in the pathophysiology of AP.