Abstract
AIM: To determine the effects of prophylactic peroxi-some proliferator-activated receptor (PPARgamma) agonist administration in an experimental model of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (post-ERCP) acute pancreatitis. METHODS: Post-ERCP pancreatitis was induced in male Wistar rats by infusion of contrast medium into the pancreatic duct. In additional group, rosiglitazone, a PPARgamma agonist, was administered 1 h before infusion of contrast medium. Plasma and pancreas samples were obtained 6 h after the infusion. RESULTS: Infusion of contrast medium into the pan-creatic duct resulted in an inflammatory process characterized by increased lipase levels in plasma, and edema and myeloperoxidase activity (MPO) in pancreas. This result correlated with the activation of nuclear factor kappaB (NFkappaB) and the inducible NO synthase (iNOS) expression in pancreatic cells. Rosiglitazone reduced the increase in lipase and the level of edema and the increase in myeloperoxidase as well as the activation of NFkappaB and iNOS expression. CONCLUSION: A single oral dose of rosiglitazone, given 1 h before post-ERCP pancreatitis induction is effective in reducing the severity of the subsequent inflammatory process. The protective effect of rosiglitazone was associated with NFkappaB inhibition and the blockage of leukocyte infiltration in pancreas.