[Cytological research on the action of sodium thiosulfate on the process of induced acute pancreatitis in rats].

The influence of sodium thiosulfate (STS) on the process of experimental acute pancreatitis (EAP) in rats was studied by cytomorphology, morphometry, autoradiography and cytophotometry. The influence was shown to vary at different stages of disease development. At the first stage ("primary effect" state) STS leads to the increase in the stability of exocrine pancreacytes (EP) against the toxins and to the decrease in the activity of proteases formed during necrobiosis. This results in the drop of the number of degrading EP and of the degree of inter- and intracellular oedema, and brings about shifts towards the normal values of the nucleus cytoplasm shapes, the nucleus/cytoplasm ratio, the EP population structure and their RNA and protein content. At the second stage STS stimulates DNA synthesis in EP and their proliferation leading to accelerated restoration of the number of viable cells. STS also stimulates the regeneration process hence preventing pancreatitis from passage to its chronic form. The mechanism of STS action of EP functions in normal cells and during pathogenesis is discussed.