Developments of New Chronic Pancreatitis Models in Rats

Abstract

Lack of an appropriate animal model for chronic pancreatitis hampered investigations of the pathophysiology and appropriate therapy. We examined whether a disturbance of pancreatic juice (PJ) flow causes pancreatic fibrosis in rats. First, we infused a viscous liquid, agarose (0.01%; 40 ml/100 g body weight) into the pancreatic duct to disturb the PJ flow. Infusion of agarose solution together with low concentration (0.1%) sodium taurocholic acid caused marked fibrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration in the pancreas for 4 weeks. Next, we elevated the hydrostatic pressure in the pancreatic duct by raising the free end of the pancreatic cannula to the vertical position to cause a disturbance, but without interruption, of the PJ flow. Elevation of the hydrostatic pressure caused pancreatic fibrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration in the inter- and intralobular areas similar to human chronic pancreatitis after 2 weeks. In the present study, we have demonstrated two experimental models of chronic pancreatitis.