Study On The Anti-Apoptosis Mechanism Of NF-κB Activation In Rats With Experimental Acute Pancreatitis

Objective To investigate the anti-apoptosis mechanism of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-KB) activation. To investigate the expression of apoptosis-regulated genes Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL in experimental acute pancreatitis (AP) and its corelation with the severity of the disease.Methods 32 wistar rats were divided randomly into four groups: Group A (Control, n=8), Group B (AP, n=8), GroupC (AP +NAC, n=8), Group D (AP+NAC, n=8). The acutepancreatitis model was established by retrograde injection of 5% sodium taurocholate into the pancreatic duct. For treatment studies, NAC (500mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally on the start of the sodium taurocholate injection in Group C, and 1 hour after injection in Group D. Appliation of TUNEL for detecting apoptosis in rat pancreatic acinar cells, and SABC immunohistochemical technique for detecting the expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL genes.Results We found that AI of Group C and D were significantly higher (P<0.01) and the expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL were significantly lower (P<0.01), compared with those of Group A and B. The pre- and post-treatment with NAC can remarkably reduced the activation of NF-KB and the severity of pancreas necrosis.Conclusions Apoptosis can potecet the pancreas cell and the degree of apoptosis is inversely related to the severity of acute pancreatitis. The pre- and post-treatment with NAC can remarkably reduced the activation of NF-KB and improved the degree of apoptosis. The expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL genes might take part in the anti-apoptosis mechanism of NF-KB activation in rats with experimental acute pancreatitis.