Sodium pyruvate improves the plasma amino acid profile in rats with L-arginine-induced acute pancreatitis

Plasma amino acid levels are altered upon many pathological conditions including acute pancreatitis. It is unclear whether amino acids can be used as specific biomarker of acute pancreatitis severity or recovery. Development of acute pancreatitis is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and decreased cytosolic ATP level. Sodium pyruvate is considered as a potential treatment of pancreatitis due to its ability to sustain mitochondrial oxidative and ATP-productive capacity in vitro. This study investigated the effect of sodium pyruvate on pancreatic morphology and plasma amino acid levels in rats with acute pancreatitis. Acute pancreatitis in rats was induced by administration of l-arginine (5 g/kg) Experimental treatment group received sodium pyruvate (1 g/kg) for 4 days. On day 8 of the experiment, animals were killed, blood was collected and plasma amino acid concentration was determined with high-performance liquid chromatography. Histological examination showed large areas of fibrosis in the pancreas of animals treated with l-arginine irrespectively of sodium pyruvate administration. Sodium pyruvate improved the plasma amino acid levels. Rats with acute pancreatitis had significantly lower levels of most essential and non-essential amino acids and increased glutamate and aspartate in plasma. Administration of sodium pyruvate completely or partially restored the levels of methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, leucine, isoleucine, aspartate, asparagine and ornithine levels, while increasing glutamine and serine to levels significantly higher than control. Plasma lysine, alanine, arginine and taurine remained unaffected in all experimental groups. Sodium pyruvate may be considered for use as a maintenance therapy in acute pancreatitis.