Pancreatic fibrosis in experimental pancreatitis induced by dibutyltin dichloride

Background & Aims: Regulatory mechanisms in chronic pancreatitis finally resulting in pancreatic fibrosis cannot be studied sufficiently in human pancreas. Results of a new pancreatitis model in rats suitable for investigation of the processes leading to pancreatic fibrosis are presented. Methods: Experimental pancreatitis was induced by intravenous application of 8 mg/kg body wt dibutyltin dichloride. Pancreatitis was characterized by histology, serum parameters, and immunohistochemistry, detecting inflammatory cells. Gene expression of collagen type I and transforming growth factor pr was shown by Northern blot analysis. Results: Dibutyltin dichloride induced an acute edematous pancreatitis within 24 hours. Extensive infiltration with mononuclear cells could be observed after day 7 followed by the development of fibrosis. Parallel to the cell infiltration, an up-regulation of messenger RNA-encoding collagen type I and transforming growth factor pi could be shown. An active inflammatory process could be shown until the end of the observation period, i.e., 2 months. Conclusions: The findings suggest that dibutyltin dichloride-induced pancreatitis in rats is suitable to study cellular interactions and mediators involved in the development of pancreatic fibrosis.