Experimental pancreatitis causes acute perturbation of energy metabolism in the intestinal wall

Introduction: The systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) may be initiated by a number of underlying conditions such as acute pancreatitis. The association between the local inflammatory reaction, the systemic response, and potential concomitant dysfunction of remote organs is not quite clear. Aim: To evaluate whether severe acute pancreatitis in the rat affects energy metabolism in the pancreas and whether the focal inflammation also causes biochemical deterioration in remote organs such as the liver and intestine. Methodology: With the patient under general anesthesia, microdialysis probes were inserted in the pancreas, liver, and small intestine. Two groups of eight rats each were studied: the sham (control) group and the pancreatitis group. Acute pancreatitis was induced by intraductal injection of 5% sodium taurodeoxycholate, and the animals were studied for 3 hours thereafter. The microdialysis fluid was analyzed for glucose, lactate, and pyruvate. Results: In the pancreatitis group we found significant increases in glucose concentration in the pancreas and lactate levels in the pancreas and intestinal wall, and the lactate/pyruvate ratio was significantly higher in the intestine than in the sham group. Conclusion: Induction of severe acute pancreatitis results in immediate metabolic alterations in the pancreas. In the intestinal wall a severe perturbation of energy metabolism is observed after only 1 hour. This implies a rapid onset of metabolic disturbances, not only in the local, challenged organ (pancreas) but also in remote organs.