The protective effects of edaravone combined with ulinastatin on the treatment of brain injury in rats with severe acute pancreatitis

Abstract

Objective To investigate the protective effects of edaravone combined with ulinastatin on the treatment of brain injury in rats with severe acute pancreatitis.Methods A total of 100 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 10 groups that consisted of a normal control 6 and 48 hour group,a SAP 6 and 48 hour group,an edaravone treated 6 and 48 hour group,a ulinastatin treated 6 and 48 hour group,and finally a combination of edaravone and ulinastatin treated 6 and 48 hour group.Each group included 10 rats.Neurobehavioral scores were observed and a series of blood,pancreatic tissue,and brain tissue samples were obtained at 6 and 48 hours after operation.Serum amylase,brain tissue Evans Blue content,brain tissue water content,and the histopathological change of the pancreas and brain tissues were observed.Serum TNF-α was detected by RIA.The TNF-α mRNA and nuclear factor kappa B(NF-κB) p65 activity in brain tissues were measured with RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry,respectively.Results In contrast to the 48 hour SAP,edaravone treated,and ulinastatin treated groups,the serum amylase,brain tissue Evans Blue content,brain tissue water content,histopathological score of the rat pancreas and brain tissue,serum TNF-a,TNF-a mRNA,and NF-κB p65 activity in brain tissues significantly decreased while neurobehavioral scores significantly increased in the 48 hour combined edaravone and ulinastatin treatment group (P＜0.01).Conclusion Edaravone combined with ulinastatin can play a protective role on brain injury in rats with severe acute pancreatitis. Key words: Edaravone; Ulinastatin; Pancreatitis, acute necrotizing; Brain injury