Pancreatic fibrosis in rats and its response to antioxidant treatment.

CONTEXT Oxidative stress plays a role in the development of pancreatic fibrosis. OBJECTIVES In the present study, we hypothesized that the administration of an antioxidant complex could ameliorate cerulein and cyclosporin A pancreatic fibrosis, assessed by changes in oxidative stress and a histopathological study in an experimental rat model. ANIMALS Four groups of ten rats each. In Group A, the rats served as controls and were treated with intraperitoneal saline solution. In Group B, six courses of cerulein pancreatitis were induced at weekly intervals. In Group C, the rats received cyclosporin A the day before and the day on which pancreatitis was induced in Group B. In Group D, the rats were treated as in Group C but also received antioxidants. All rats were sacrificed at the seventh week. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The presence of fibrosis was evaluated according to a scoring system. Glutathione peroxidase was utilized as an indicator of oxidative stress and total antioxidant status as an indicator of total antioxidant tissue capacity. RESULTS The rats in Groups B and C showed more pancreatic fibrosis than those in Groups A and D (90%, 70%, 0%, and 20%, respectively). The glutathione peroxidase increased in Group B (455+/-196 mU/g protein) and Group C (243+/-206 mU/g protein) with respect to those in Group A (137+/-80 mU/g protein) and Group D (135+/-105 mU/g protein). Total antioxidant status was significantly higher in Groups B (1.41+/-0.96 mmol/g protein) and D (1.28+/-0.09 mmol/g protein) with respect to Groups A (0.10+/-0.06 mmol/g protein) and C (0.15+/-0.09 mmoL/g protein). CONCLUSION The administration of cerulein and cyclosporin A caused fibrosis, whereas antioxidant administration showed preventive effects regarding cerulein and cyclosporin A-induced pancreatic fibrosis.