Healing Effects of Single-Dose Triptolide in Rats with Severe Acute Pancreatitis

Aim: Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) carries high morbidity and mortality risk. If the proinflammatory response phase of SAP cannot be controlled, it may result in multiorgan failure (MOF). Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation plays an important role in the development of MOF. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the healing effects of triptolide, an anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive agent in rats with SAP.Material and Methods: A total of 20 Wistar-Albino rats were divided into two groups as the SAP and triptolide treatment (TT) groups. SAP was induced by intraperitoneal injection of cerulean (50 mg/kg) in both groups. TT group was administered a single dose (0.2 mg/kg) triptolide 24 hour after the induction of SAP. Serum ALT, AST, GGT, Lipase, Glucose, ALP and amylase levels and pancreatic tissue samples were examined.Results: Serum glucose and amylase levels were found to be significantly lower in the TT group (p=0.011 and p=0.035, respectively). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of other biochemical parameters. Pancreatic edema, acinar cell degeneration, fat necrosis, intrapancreatic&perivascular inflammation, inflammation in the peripancreatic fat tissue were common histopathological findings in both groups. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of histopathologic changes.Conclusion: Cerulein-induced pancreatitis is a successful method for experimental SAP. The healing effects of single-dose triptolide treatment are not evident in the early phase of SAP. The therapeutic effects of triptolide on inflammatory and oxidative stress were not significantly approved by histopathological and biochemical parameters by the pancreatic tissue.