Department of Gastroenterology, Medical School, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, Jiangsu Province, China.
World J Gastroenterol. 2013;19(14):2179-86. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i14.2179.
To observe the changes in interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in rats with experimental severe acute pancreatitis (SAP).
A total of twenty-four SD rats were randomly divided into two groups (n = 12), namely the sham (S) group and the SAP group; the SAP rat model was established by retrograde injection of 5% sodium taurocholate (1.0 mL/kg) into the pancreatic duct. Twenty-four hours later intestinal motility was assessed by testing small intestinal propulsion rate, and then the rats were sacrificed. The pancreas and jejunum were resected and underwent routine pathologic examination. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect c-kit-positive cells in the jejunum. Expression of c-kit mRNA was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction, and the expression of c-kit protein was evaluated by Western blotting. Ultrastructure of ICC was evaluated by transmission electron microscopy.
There was bleeding, necrosis and a large amount of inflammatory cell infiltration in pancreatic tissue in the SAP group, while in jejunal tissue we observed a markedly denuded mucosal layer, loss of villous tissue and a slightly dilated muscular layer. The small intestinal propulsion rate was 68.66% ± 2.66% in the S group and 41.55% ± 3.85% in the SAP group. Compared with the S group, the rate of the SAP group decreased sharply. The density of c-kit-positive cells in the SAP group was significantly lower than in the S group; the respective mean densities were 88.47 ± 10.49 in the S group and 56.11 ± 7.09 in the SAP group. The levels of c-kit protein and mRNA were 0.36 ± 0.04 and 1.29 ± 0.91 in the SAP group, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in the S group (0.53 ± 0.06, 0.64 ± 0.33, respectively). In the SAP group, ICC profiles showed the same change tendency, such as vacuolation of mitochondria, irregular vacuoles and loosened desmosome-like junctions.
Decreased c-kit-positive cells and ultrastructural changes in ICC resulting from blockade of the c-kit signaling pathway are involved in the intestinal dysmotility associated with SAP.
观察实验性重症急性胰腺炎（SAP）大鼠 Cajal 间质细胞（ICC）的变化。
将 24 只 SD 大鼠随机分为两组（n = 12），即假手术（S）组和 SAP 组；通过逆行胰胆管内注射 5%牛磺胆酸钠（1.0 mL/kg）建立 SAP 大鼠模型。24 小时后，通过检测小肠推进率评估肠道运动功能，然后处死大鼠。切除胰腺和空肠，进行常规病理检查。免疫组织化学染色检测空肠中 c-kit 阳性细胞。实时聚合酶链反应检测 c-kit mRNA 的表达，Western blot 法评估 c-kit 蛋白的表达。透射电镜观察 ICC 的超微结构。
SAP 组胰腺组织可见出血、坏死，大量炎性细胞浸润；空肠组织黏膜层明显脱落，绒毛组织缺失，肌层稍有扩张。S 组小肠推进率为 68.66%±2.66%，SAP 组为 41.55%±3.85%。与 S 组相比，SAP 组下降明显。SAP 组 c-kit 阳性细胞密度明显低于 S 组，分别为 88.47±10.49 和 56.11±7.09。SAP 组 c-kit 蛋白和 mRNA 水平分别为 0.36±0.04 和 1.29±0.91，明显低于 S 组（0.53±0.06、0.64±0.33）。SAP 组 ICC 形态也呈现出相同的变化趋势，如线粒体空泡化、不规则空泡和疏松的桥粒样连接。
c-kit 信号通路阻断导致的 ICC 中 c-kit 阳性细胞减少和超微结构改变，与 SAP 相关的肠道运动障碍有关。
