Metamizol Relieves Pain Without Interfering With Cerulein-Induced Acute Pancreatitis in Mice.

OBJECTIVES

Animal models are essential to understand the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis (AP) and to develop new therapeutic strategies. Although it has been shown that cerulein-induced AP is associated with pain in experimental animals, most experiments are carried out without any pain-relieving treatment because researchers are apprehensive of an interference of the analgetic agent with AP-associated inflammation. In light of the growing ethical concerns and the legal tightening regarding animal welfare during experiments, this attitude should be changed.

METHODS

Acute pancreatitis was induced by cerulein in the C57BL/6J and FVB/N mouse inbred strains. One group received vehicle only, and the other was treated with metamizol as analgetic agent. Pain sensation and parameters of AP were analyzed as well as the effect of metamizol in the pancreas and its actions in the brain.

RESULTS

We report that oral administration of metamizol protects cerulein-treated mice from abdominal pain without influencing the clinical and histopathological course of the disease. In addition, it could be shown that metamizol reduces the central pain response.

CONCLUSIONS

This study reveals that oral administered metamizol has no influence on the cerulein-induced AP and can be given as an analgesic to increase animal welfare in experiments with induced AP.