PROTECTIVE ROLE OF ATRIAL NATRIURETIC FACTOR (ANF) IN ACUTE PANCREATITIS

NAJENSON AC; VENTIMIGLIA M; PERAZZO JC; VATTA MS; BIANCIOTTI LG

Congreso; 1ST PANAMERICAN CONGRESS OF PHYSIOLOGICAL SCIENCES; 2014

As ANF modulates secretin intracellular signaling and exocrine pancreatic secretion in the rat, the aim of the present study was to evaluate its role in the onset of acute pancreatitis (AP). Rats were fasted overnight and randomly assigned to control or experimental groups. AP was induced by four ceruelin injections (ip) at hourly intervals. Secretin alone or with ANF was infused for 60 min starting 30 min before the first caerulein injection. Amylase and trypsin activity were determined by enzymatic and fluorometric methods, respectively whereas different markers associated with the inflammatory response were assessed by western blot or RIA. Results showed that animals pretreated with ANF exhibited lower plasmatic amylase levels and reduced intrapancreatic trypsinogen activation as compared with animals with or without secretin alone. Histological studies revealed that ANF reduced pancreatic edema, vascular congestion and vacuolization but increased pyknotic nuclei whereas secretin aggravated all histological features of AP. The expression of pro-inflammatory enzymes COX2 and iNOS was reduced by ANF as well as ERK1/2 activation. Intrapancreatic PGE2 levels were also diminished by ANF and differences were found in the nuclear expression of p65 and PPARγ. Present findings reveal that ANF reduces the inflammatory response in the onset of AP suggesting a protective role in the development of the disease.