Experimental pancreatitis in the rat: role of bile reflux in sodium taurocholate-induced acute haemorrhagic pancreatitis.

Mortality of sodium taurocholate-induced acute haemorrhagic pancreatitis in the rat was prevented by biliary diversion. Bile reflux into the pancreas after the induction of pancreatitis is postulated to be a major factor affecting mortality of this popular model of acute pancreatitis. The reduction of pancreatic secretory volume during pancreatitis is thought to be the cause of this phenomenon. Bile reflux augments dehydration by its stimulation of ascites production. It is suggested that sodium taurocholate-induced pancreatitis in the rat can only be extrapolated to human disease if bile reflux indeed plays a significant role in acute pancreatitis in man.