Expression Of TNF-α And NF-κB In Experimental Acute Pancreatitis

Objective: To study the expression of Tumor necrosisfactor–α(TNF-α) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) in rats with L-arginine (L-Arg)-induced acute pancreatitis (AP). And to assess the effctiveness of Ulinastatin on the activity of them and on the pathological severity.Methods: Ninety-six Spraque-Dawley male rats were divided into three groups randomly. Group C received saline alone. Group U was treated with 10% Ulinastatin (0.6mg/g). The expressions of TNF-αand NF-κB in the pancreatic tissue were tested with the method of immunohistochemistry. The serum levels of amylase were assayed.Results: TNF-αand NF-κB expressed were significantly increased, and they were sigmificantly suppressed with Ulinastatin.Conclusions: TNF-αand NF-κB were activated at early time and played important roles in AP, Ulinastatin could inhibit the expression of the two factors and may reduce the degrees of damage of pancreas and be beneficial in experimental acute pancreatitis.