α-Tocopherol treatment ameliorates chronic pancreatitis in an experimental rat model induced by trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid.

Objective: To investigate the effects of α-tocopherol on pancreatic fibrosis and survival in rats with experimental chronic pancreatitis induced by trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS).
Methods: Chronic pancreatitis was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by infusion of TNBS into the pancreatic duct. α-Tocopherol (300, 600 or 900 mg/kg) was orally administered to rats with experimental pancreatitis (treatment group) daily for 4 weeks. The relative pancreatic weight, pancreatic pseudocyst and death rate were observed. Paraffin-embedded tissue samples were sliced, stained by hematoxylin-eosin and histopathologically examined.
Results: α-Tocopherol administration significantly ameliorated the pancreatic weight loss induced by TNBS in chronic pancreatitis rats compared to the control group. There were pancreatic pseudocysts in 69% of the α-tocopherol group, and in 100% of the control group. α-Tocopherol administration led to a significant increase of the survival rate. The histopathologic scores were higher in the control group than in the α-tocopherol group. Subgroup analysis of histopathologic scores revealed that a high dose of α-tocopherol results in less pancreatic injuries.
Conclusion: α-Tocopherol treatment elevates survival rate, extenuates fibrosis and increases relative pancreatic weight in the chronic pancreatitis model. α-Tocopherol therapy in chronic pancreatitis is now required to confirm these findings and establish the role of this treatment in the management of this disabling condition. and IAP.
(Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.)