The role of intestinal flora in the pathogenesis of infection and aggravation of experimental acute pancreatitis in rats]

This study was undertaken to determine the role of bacterial translocation in the pathogenesis of infection and aggravation of the course of experimental acute pancreatitis in rats. Acute pancreatitis was induced by the injection of 3% sodium taurocholate. The rats were divided into following 3 groups: acute pancreatitis only (AP), total colectomy + pancreatitis (TCAP), acute pancreatitis with ED preparation (EDAP). The positive rate of bacteriological culture of pancreatic tissue was 40.7% at 24 hours in AP group and 50.0% in EDAP group, but in TCAP group, pancreatic tissue was sterile at 6.12 hours and at 24 hours positive rate was only 6%. There was a significant reduction of bacterial contamination in TCAP group compared with AP and EDAP groups. In the bacteriological culture of the liver, spleen and MLN, bacterial contamination was reduced in TCAP group. Blood endotoxin level elevated gradually compared to the level before induction of acute pancreatitis. At 24 hours, there was a significant difference between TCAP group and EDAP group. In TCAP group, survival rate was improved at 24 hours compared to AP group and EDAP group. Infectious complication during the experimental acute pancreatitis in rats can be explained by the bacterial translocation of intestinal flora, especially colonal bacteria, which may result in aggravation of pancreatitis.