Influence of calcitonin gene-related peptide on model mice with acute pancreatitis

Abstract

Abstract Objectives To establish model mice with acute pancreatitis (AP) and study influence of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on AP. Methods The model mice with AP were firstly established by intraperitoneal injection of successive six doses of caerulein (100 μg/kg) and one dose of lipopolysaccharide (10 mg/kg). The intraperitoneal injection of CGRP (100 μg/kg) was performed to investigate influence of CGRP on AP, mainly involving the determination of amylase activity and the expression of CGRP and CD20+ B lymphocytes. Results CGRP on mice with AP could significantly reduce the severity of pancreatic pathological injury, the activity of amylase and the expression of CD20+ B lymphocytes. CGRP was significantly expressed in pancreatic tissue with AP, but CGRP receptor antagonist down-regulated the expression of CGRP and increased the number of CD20+ B lymphocytes, confirming the protective effect of CGRP on pancreatic tissue. Conclusions We preliminarily conclude that CGRP could significantly improve the pancreatic lesions and inflammatory infiltration of pancreas in mice with AP, and reduce the damage of pancreatic acinar cells, by mainly increasing blood flow and blood flow velocity of pancreas to improve the pancreatic microcirculation and effectively reducing the permeability of the microvessels to decrease the pathological damage degree of AP.