Administration of warfarin accelerates the recovery in ischemia/reperfusion-induced acute pancreatitis.

Acute pancreatitis is associated with activation of coagulation and there is a close relationship between coagulation and the severity of this disease. Administration of anticoagulants such as heparin or acenocoumarol has shown to reduce the severity of acute pancreatitis and accelerate the recovery. The aim of the current study was to determine the impact of warfarin administration on the course of ischemia/reperfusion-induced acute pancreatitis. Acute pancreatitis was induced in rats by pancreatic ischemia followed by reperfusion. Vehicle (1 ml/dose) or warfarin (45, 90 or 180 µg/kg/dose in 1 ml of vehicle) were administered intragastrically once a day. The first dose of warfarin was given 24 h after the start of pancreatic reperfusion. The severity of acute pancreatitis was assessed 2, 5, 9 and 14 days after the beginning of pancreatic reperfusion. Treatment with warfarin reduces pancreatic damage and accelerates recovery in histological examination and this effect is accompanied by a faster reduction in serum activity of pancreatic digestive enzymes, lipase and amylase. In addition, warfarin led to an earlier decrease in serum concentration of pro-inflammatory interleukin-1ß and plasma level of D-dimer. These effects were associated with an improvement of pancreatic blood flow. We conclude that warfarin exhibits a therapeutic effect in acute pancreatitis evoked by pancreatic ischemia followed by reperfusion.

The influence of pretreatment with ghrelin on the development of acetic-acid-induced colitis in rats.

Ghrelin has been primarily shown to exhibit protective and therapeutic effect in the gut. Pretreatment with ghrelin inhibits the development of acute pancreatitis and accelerates pancreatic recovery in the course of this disease. In the stomach, ghrelin reduces gastric mucosal damage induced by ethanol, stress or alendronate, as well as accelerates the healing of acetic acid-induced gastric and duodenal ulcer. The aim of present studies was to investigate the effect of pretreatment with ghrelin on the development of acetic acid-induced colitis. Studies have been performed on male Wistar rats. Animals were treated intraperitoneally with saline (control) or ghrelin (4, 8 or 16 nmol/kg/dose). Saline or ghrelin was given twice: 8 and 1 h before induction of colitis. Colitis was induced by a rectal enema with 1 ml of 4% solution of acetic acid and the severity of colitis was assessed 1 or 24 hours after induction of inflammation. Rectal administration of acetic acid induced colitis in all animals. Damage of colonic wall was seen at the macroscopic and microscopic level. This effect was accompanied by a reduction in colonic blood flow and mucosal DNA synthesis. Moreover, induction of colitis significantly increased mucosal concentration of pro-inflammatory interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), activity of myeloperoxidase and concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA). Mucosal activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was reduced. Pretreatment with ghrelin reduced the area and grade of mucosal damage. This effect was accompanied by an improvement of blood flow, DNA synthesis and SOD activity in colonic mucosa. Moreover, ghrelin administration reduced mucosal concentration of IL-1ß and MDA, as well as decreased mucosal activity of myeloperoxidase. Administration of ghrelin protects the large bowel against the development of the acetic acid-induced colitis and this effect seems to be related to the ghrelin-evoked anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects.