THE TIME COURSE OF LIVER ALTERATIONS IN ACUTE EXPERIMENTAL PANCREATITIS IN RATS - AN ULTRASTRUCTURAL-STUDY

Hepatic complications are important in multiorgan failure secondary to acute pancreatitis. The purpose of this study was to measure the time course of ultrastructural changes in the liver in acute experimental pancreatitis (AEP). In 36 male Wistar rats, AEP was induced by retrograde injection of 5% sodium taurocholate into the pancreatic duct during sterile laparotomy. Six control rats were sham operated. Rats with AEP were decapitated after 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 or 48 h. The earliest changes in the liver were seen after 1 and 3 h of AEP, and comprised pleomorphism of mitochondria, partial degranulation of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), scarce autophagocytosis and depletion of glycogen. These changes were more advanced after 6 h and culminated after 12 and 24 h. The mitochondria were degenerated, autophagocytosis was abundant, Kupffer cells were activated, and some hepatocytes were necrotic. After 48 h, partial restitution was observed. These sequential changes of liver ultrastructure suggest damage to the liver during AEP. The activation of Kupffer cells indicates the protective role of the liver against pancreatogenic noxa in this disease.