Maintenance Impact of Large Dose of Vitamin C on Proinflammatory Cytokines, Insulin, and Electrocardiographic Parameters of Wistar Rats Following Partial Pancreatectomy

We investigated serum tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukins (IL-6 and IL-8) in rats undergoing pancreatic wound healing after partial pancreatectomy. In addition, we studied the effects of partial pancreatectomy on the insulin and the electrocardiography (ECG). We proposed that vitamin C (VitC) could have maintenance impact on TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-8, insulin, and ECG parameters of pancreatic wound healing of Wistar rats that had partial pancreatectomy surgery, if administered in large dose. Thirty-five male adult Wistar rats (180-250 g) were randomized into 7 groups, with 5 rats in each group. Group 1 was control. Groups 2, 3, and 4 (phase 1) received oral 1,000 mg/kg VitC, while groups 5, 6, and 7 (phase 2) received only water and feed ad libitum postoperatively for 14 days. One-quarter (1/4) pancreatectomy was performed in groups 2 and 5, half (1/2) pancreatectomy was performed in groups 3 and 6, and three-quarter (3/4) pancreatectomy was performed in groups 4 and 7. Significant (P < 0.5) decrease in IL-6 was observed in phase 1 when compared with the control. Significant increase in IL-6 was observed when compared with control. Significant increase in IL-8 was observed in phase 1 (groups 2 and 3) and phase 2 when compared with the control. Significant decrease in TNF-alpha was observed in phase 1 when compared with the control. Significant decrease in TNF-alpha was observed in phase 2 (groups 6 and 7) when compared with the control. Insulin level decreased and increased insignificantly in phase 2 and phase 1, respectively, when compared with the control. Although atrial fibrillation was recorded in phase 2 (group 7), normal ECG was seen in the control and phase 1 (group 2). Large dose vitC may be helpful in the reduction of proinflammatory cytokines as well as elevation of insulin and normalization of ECG in rats that had undergone partial pancreatectomy.