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Protective Effects of Epidermal Growth Factor on Pancreas of Rats with Acute Pancreatitis

【Abstract】Objective To investigate the protective effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on pancreas of rats with acute pancreatitis(AP). Methods Seventytwo male SpragueDawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: Control group, AP group and AP-EGF group. Subcutaneously injection of EGF (0.1 μg/g) were given to animals in the AP-EGF group after the establishment of the model of AP. The other two groups of animals received the same volume of saline. At 6 h, 12 h and 24 h after induction of AP, 8 animals in each group were sacrificed respectively， 4 ml of blood sample was withdrawn from heart，2 ml for the analysis of amylase activity and 2 ml for MDA content in serum. Ascites was sucked with dry gauzes and was weighed thereafter. Changes of pancreas morphology were evaluated at every time point. The same part of pancreas was removed for measurement of MDA content, apoptotic index (AI) and histologic changes. Results Histologic injury of the animals in the APEGF group was milder than that in the AP group. Ascites weight in the AP-EGF group decreased significantly compared with that in the AP group at 12 h and 24 h 〔(4.53±1.29) g vs (6.58±1.47) g, (7.64±1.85) g vs (11.96±2.13) g，P＜0.05，P＜0.01〕. Amylase activity in the APEGF group also decreased significantly compared with that in the AP group at 12 h and 24 h 〔(142.0±8.3) U/L vs (187.9±10.4) U/L, (194.3±10.4) U/L vs (253.3±8.6) U/L, P＜0.05，P＜0.01〕. MDA content in plasm 〔(2.34±0.23) μmol/L vs (3.15±0.38) μmol/L, P＜0.05〕 and in pancreas 〔(5.21±1.46) μmol/g vs (7.68±1.63) μmol/g, P＜0.01〕 in the APEGF group decreased significantly compared with those in the AP group at 24 h. AI of pancreas in the APEGF group increased significantly compared withthatintheAPgroupafteroperation〔(16.22±3.53)%〖KG4vs (7.35±1.04)%, (11.67±2.40)% vs (4.81±0.86)%, (6.38±1.42)% vs (1.97±0.21)%, P＜0.01〕. Conclusion EGF may accelerate the restoration of pathologic injury and alleviate the hemorrhage and edema of pancreas. It may also depress MDA content in plasm and in pancreas so that to lessen oxidative damage. EGF may protect pancreas by inducing cellular apoptosis.