Pathophysiology of chronic pancreatitis induced by dibutyltin dichloride joint ethanol in mice

Abstract

AIM: To search for a new chronic pancreatitis model in mice suitable for investigating the pathophysiological processes leading to pancreatic fibrosis.

METHODS: The mice were randomly divided into 2 groups (n = 50), control group and model group. The mice in model group were given ethanol (10%) in drinking water after injection of dibutyltin dichloride (DBTC) (8 mg/kg BW) in tail vein. The mice in control group were injected with only solvent into tail vein (60% ethanol, 20% glycerine and 20% normal saline) and drank common water. At days 1, 7, 14, 28, and 56 after application of DBTC or solvent, 10 mice in one group were killed at each time point respectively. Blood was obtained by inferior vena cava puncture. The activity of amylase, concentration of bilirubin and hyaluronic acid in serum were assayed. The pancreas was taken to observe the pancreatic morphology by HE staining, and to characterize the pancreatic fibrosis by Masson staining. The expression of F4/80, CD3 and fibronectin (FN) were assayed by immuno-histochemistry or Immunofluorescence technique. Collagen type I (COL1A1) in pancreas were detected by Western blot. The expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) mRNA in the pancreas was assessed by real time PCR.

RESULTS: DBTC induced an acute edematous pancreatitis within 1 d. The dilated acini, scattered acinar cell necrosis, and inflammatory cells were found at day 7. Extensive infiltration with inflammatory cells following deposition of connective tissue was observed at day 14. At day 28, level of pancreatic fibrosis was aggravated. The pancreatic tissue was replaced by an extended interstitial fibrosis at the end of 2 mo. There was significant difference in the level of amylase, bilirubin and hyaluronic acid in serum between control group and model group (P < 0.05). The level of COL1A1 and FN in pancreas increased. The expression of MMP-1 mRNA in pancreas decreased, but TIMP-1 mRNA increased at model group.

CONCLUSION: DBTC joint Ethanol drinking can induce chronic pancreatitis in accordance with the pathophysiological modification of human. DBTC joint Ethanol-induced pancreatitis in mice is an effective and handy experimental method. The model is suitable to study the mechanism of pancreatic fibrosis in chronic pancreatitis.

Key Words: Chronic pancreatitis; Fibrosis; Dibutyhin dichloride; Ethanol models; Animal; Pathophysiology

Core tip: It was assured that the model with chronic fibrotic lesions in pancreas was induced by single intravenous injection of dibutyltin dichloride (DBTC) and additional daily ethanol ingestion. But until now, all experiments about the animal model induced by DBTC just have been performed in rat. However, there are some differences in the structure of bile ducts between rat and mouse. As we known, rat has no gall bladder, but mouse’s gall bladder structure is similar to humans’. So we adopted DBTC injection joint long-term consumption of ethanol to observe whether chronic pancreatitis could be induced in mice and the related pathophysiology.

INTRODUCTION

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is an intractable disease of the pancreas, which typically presents with attacks of severe upper abdominal pain. CP is characterized by an irreversible, irregular fibrosis and chronic continuing inflammation, and permanent loss of exocrine and endocrine functions[1,2]. The distribution of extracellular matrix (ECM) components has been shown in pancreas, indicating an increased deposition of disorganized matrix components in chronic pancreatitis[3,4]. The mechanisms by which this fibrotic process occurs are not fully understood.

A variety of etiologic factors have been described for the development of human chronic pancreatitis. In recent years, biliary tract diseases and alcoholism have been regarded as the leading causes of chronic pancreatitis[5-7]. In Sparmann’s experiment[8], the rats were given a single intravenous application of dibutyltin dichloride (DBTC) (8 mg/kg body weight) to induce pancreatitis. After 24 h of DBTC treatment, they found pancreatic edema and distention of the biliopancreatic duct. The microscopic result showed administration of DBTC induced destruction of duct epithelial cells and that the clotting by necrotic cells caused an obstruction of the biliopancreatic duct.

Chronic ingestion of alcohol is well-known for the pathogenesis of human chronic pancreatitis,but the ingestion of alcohol alone over a long time in animals does not induce chronic pancreatitis[9,10] and our primary experiment. In Merkord’s study[11], they found an additional intake of ethanol (15% in drinking water ad libitum) increased the toxic effects of DBTC on pancreas and led to a stronger fibrosis in pancreas. In rats, it was assured that the model with chronic fibrotic lesions in pancreas was induced by single intravenous injection of DBTC and additional daily ethanol ingestion. But in mouse, the model of chronic pancreatitis was usually induced with cerulein for a long and repetition injection[12,13]. It must cost a good deal to induce the model. As a good method, DBTC/ethanol not only mimics the main causes of human chronic pancreatitis, but also is effective, economic, and handy. However, as we known, there are some differences in the structure of bile ducts between rat and mouse[14]. So it is not clear whether DBTC/ethanol can induce the model of chronic pancreatitis in mice and its pathophysiology is similar to human.

In the present experiment, the influence of DBTC joint ethanol on pancreatic lesion in mice was investigated. By assaying the pathophysiological change of pancreas, we look forward to search for a new chronic pancreatitis model in mouse suitable for investigating the pathophysiological processes leading to pancreatic fibrosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Animals and materials

KM mice (20-25 g) obtained from Experimental Animal Center of 4^th Medical University of PLA. (Grade SPF IICertificate No. 2005-005) were fasted but free access to water for 12 h. All experiments were performed in accordance with the animal care and handling guidelines of the Committee on Animal Care of Shaanxi Province. The antibodies against F4/80, CD3, COL1A1 and FN were purchased from Santa Cruz Biotechnology Inc. or Boster Biotechnology Inc. The secondary antibodies and kits for immunohistochemistry or immunofluorescence were provided by Boster Biotechnology Inc., China. DBTC was purchased from Sigma-Aldrich Co (Lot.205494). The Kits for amylase bilirubin and hyaluronic acid obtained from Biotechnology Company. Q-PCR kit and primers were provided by Transgen Biotech Co, China. All other chemicals were purchased from local source at the highest purity available.

Introduction of CP model in mice

The mice were randomly divided into 2 groups, namely control group and model group (n = 50). The mice in model group were injected DBTC solution (DBTC was solved in 60% ethanol, 20% glycerine and 20% normal saline, the concentration was 3.2 μg/μL, 25 μL/10 g BW) into tail vein with a insulin syringe at a dose of 8 mg/kg of body weight[8]. The time of injection must exceed over 1 min. After injection of DBTC, the mice were given ethanol (10%) in drinking water. The mice in control group were injected only solvent (60% ethanol, 20% glycerine and 20% normal saline) into tail vein and drunk common water.

Preparation of serum and tissue samples

The mice were sacrificed at days 1, 7, 14, 28, and 56 after application of DBTC or solvent (n = 10 at each time point). Blood samples were obtained by inferior vena cava puncture and centrifuged at 4 °C, and then serum was stored at -80 °C for amylase, bilirubin and hyaluronic acid analysis. The activity of amylase, concentration of bilirubin and hyaluronic acid in serum were assayed respectively. The pancreas was taken to observe the pancreatic morphology by H&E staining, and to characterize the pancreatic fibrosis by Masson staining. The expression of F4/80, CD3 and FN were assayed by immuno-histochemistry or Immunofluorescence technique. COL1A1 in pancreas was detected by Western blot. The expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) mRNA in the pancreas was assessed by real time PCR.

Histology, H&E and Massson staining

For morphological analyses, at days 1, 7, 14, 28, and 56, pancreas were removed, immediately immersed in 4% neutral phosphate-buffered paraformaldehyde for 12 h, embedded in paraffin, and sectioned (5 μm). The sections of the specimens were stained with HE or Masson staining, then observed the morphological changes and fibrosis in pancreas under a light microscope.

Immunohistochemistry or Immunofluorescence technique

Immunohistochemical or Immunofluorescence analyses were performed according to standard protocols. For Immunohistochemistry, antibodies were given in the following concentrations. 1:300 dilution of F4/80 antibody (Santa Cruz Biotechnology Inc. sc-71088) or CD3 antibody (Biosynthesis Biotechnology Inc. bs-10498R) was diluted in blocking solution in a humid chamber overnight at 4 °C; 1:500 dilution of a biotinylated secondary antibody for 40 min; the bound peroxidase was visualized by reaction for 2-5 min in a solution containing 50 mg of 3,3-diaminobenzidine (DAB); counterstained with hematoxylin, dehydrated, and mounted. For Immunofluorescence, 1:300 dilution of FN antibody (Boster Biotechnology Inc. BA-1772) was incubated in a humid chamber overnight 4 °C in the dark; 1:500 dilution of FITC labeled secondary antibody for 30 min; counterstained with DAPI (1:10000) for 30 s, dehydrated and mounted coverslip with anti-fade mounting medium. The slides for F4/80 or CD3 were examined under a light microscope. Bright-field images were acquired using a Zeiss Axio1 imager with an AxioCam HRc (Zeiss, Germany). For FN, the slides were examined under a fluorescent microscope. Dark-field images were acquired using a Olympus imager (Olympus, Japan).

Western blotting

For western blotting analysis, cellular proteins were prepared from pancreas by standard methods. Protein concentration were determined (Bio-Rad Protein Assay) and adjusted to 4 μg/μL. The samples were boiled at 95 °C for 5 min before loading, and then subjected to SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and blotted to PVDF membranes. The membranes were probed with the following antibodies: anti- COL1A1 (Santa Cruz Biotechnology Inc. sc-25974). A low-molecular weight protein marker was used to determine the size of detected bands in the western blot.

Quantitative polymerase chain reaction

RNA was extracted from pancreatic tissue (RNeasy minicolumns; Transgen, China) and transcribed into complementary DNA using Oligo (dT) Primer and SuperScript II reverse transcriptase (both Transgen, China). For quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR), 100 ng complementary DNA was used for each reaction and amplified. Primers, number of cycle, and annealing temperature are given in Table 1. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction was performed using a SYBR Green reaction mix. The assay was performed on an ABI 7500 Fast Real-Time PCR System (Applied Biosystems). All experiments were performed in triplicates, and expression levels were normalized to β-actin and calculated using the 2-ΔΔCt method. Primer Sequences were shown in Table 1.

Table 1 Primer sequences used for quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

Gene	Cycles	Tm (°C)	Forward primer	Reverse primer
MMP-1	40	60	5-GTG AAT GGC AAG GAG ATG ATG G-3	5-ACG AGG ATT GTT GTG AGT AAT GG-3
TIMP-1	40	60	5-CAT CTC TGG CAT CTG GCA TCC-3	5-CGC TGG TAT AAG GTG GTC TCG-3
β-actin	40	60	5-ACC ACA CCT TCT ACA ATG AG-3	5-ACG ACC AGA GGC ATA CAG-3

Tm: Melting temperature; MMP-1: Matrix metalloproteinase-1; TIMP-1: Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1.

Statistical analysis

Data were expressed with means ± SD and compared by the non paired Student t test and one-way analysis of variance.

Biostatistics statement

We invited an expert in Biomedical Statistics to evaluate the statistical method in our manuscript. The statement of statistical analyses was shown in the Materials and Methods section. We have explained the bio-statistical methods from our experimental data in the Figure legend.

RESULTS

Morphological changes in pancreas

One day after DBTC injection, an acute edematous pancreatitis was induced. One week after model, acute pancreatitis had developed with mild infiltration of neutrophilic granulocytes, acinar cell edema and necrosis. At day 14, the pancreatic duct showed extreme dilatation, edema and a partial necrosis of the surface epithelium, infiltration of lymphocytes and macrophages following deposition of connective tissue in pancreas was observed. At 4 wk to 8 wk, level of pancreatic fibrosis was aggravated. The pancreatic tissue was characterized by the lost of acinar cells and islets, replacement of an extended interstitial fibrosis at the end of 2 mo (Figure 1A, × 100). Collagen deposition increased significantly and was found by Masson staining in the model group compared with the control group (Figure 1B, × 200). In model group, the mortality rate was about 30.4% and 8 wk after administration of DBTC and ethanol, 71.4% (10/14) of the survival mice showed periductal and interstitial fibrosis as well as an infiltration of inflammatory cells in the pancreas.

Figure 1 Morphological changes in pancreatic sections obtained from mice with chronic pancreatitis induced by Dibutyltin Dichloride joint Ethanol drinking. A: The pancreatic morphology at different time-point by HE staining (original magnification: 100 ×); B: Collagen deposition by Masson staining (original magnification: 200 ×).

Biochemical parameter changes in serum

The activity of amylase was increased after 24 h. At 1 wk, the activity of amylase less decreased, but still did not return to normal value and remained the elevated level until 4 wk. At 8 wk after DBTC and ethanol application, with the development of pancreatic fibrosis and loss of pancreatic tissue, the activity of amylase declined sharply (Figure 2A). Bilirubin level in serum was also increased from 1 d to 8 wk. This finding indicated that the pathogenetic mechanism of the model included liver injury and obstruction of biliopancreatic duct (Figure 2B). The serum concentration of ECM component hyaluronic acid was found to be increased at 2 wk, 4 wk and went up more at 8 wk after DBTC and ethanol application (Figure 2C). There were significant differences in the level of amylase, bilirubin and hyaluronic acid in serum between control group and model group (P < 0.01).

Figure 2 Biochemical parameter changes in serum of mice with chronic pancreatitis induced DBTC-induced by Dibutyltin Dichloride joint Ethanol drinking at the indicated time. A: Amylase activity (U/L); B: Level of bilirubin (mmol/L); C: Concentration of hyaluronic acid (μg/L). Values are shown as mean ± SD (n = 8). Results are expressed as mean ± SD compared with control; ^aP < 0.05 vs control.

The infiltration of inflammatory cells in the pancreas of mice with pancreatitis induced by DBTC and ethanol were shown in Figure 3. One day after DBTC application, the leukocytes infiltrating in pancreas were identified as polymorphonuclear leukocytes and a few macrophages marked with F4/80 (Figure 3A). The T-lymphocyte marker CD3 could not be detected on the first day after DBTC application (Figure 3B). But 7 d after DBTC and ethanol application, the number of infiltrating T-lymphocyte increased, the granulocytic infiltration decreased. After 2 wk, during the following several weeks, there was a marked increase of macrophages and T lymphocytes. The positive ratio of macrophage and T lymphocytes reached the highest level at 4 wk, and sustained the high level at 8 wk. The result showed that macrophages and T-lymphocytes were the predominant population of inflammatory cells during the development of chronic pancreatitis.

Figure 3 Immunohistochemistry of macrophages and T lymphocytes in DBTC-induced pancreatitis at different time-point. A: Macrophages were stained using an anti-mice macrophage antibody (F4/80) (original magnification: 400 ×); B: T lymphocytes were stained using an anti-mice CD3 monoclonal antibody (original magnification: 400 ×).

Fibrotic parameter changes in pancreas

The expression of fibronectin (FN) and collagen type I (COL1A1) in the mouse pancreas were assessed by Immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis respectively.

As shown in Figure 4A, there was no FN expression in the pancreas of control group. DBTC and ethanol administration led to an obvious expression of FN in pancreas. The time course of the induction showed a weak level on 1 d and 1 wk. Subsequently, the FN expression increased markedly at 2 wk and remained elevated level during the observation period.

Figure 4 Fibrotic parameter changes in pancreas of mice with chronic pancreatitis induced DBTC-induced by dibutyltin dichloride joint ethanol drinking at the indicated time. A: FN expression in pancreas with immunofluorescence double staining of FN and DAPI showing co-expression in the pancreas (original magnification: 200 ×); B: COL1A1 expression in pancreas with western blot.

In Figure 4B, the expression of COL1A1 was shown during the DBTC pancreatitis. The expression level of COL1A1 was corrected with β-actin. There was no COL1A1 expression in the control group. The relative expression of COL1A1 was elevated at 2 wk and remained elevated level during the observation period.

These findings were in agreement with the morphological alterations in the pancreas. The single intravenous application of DBTC and continuous ethanol drinking could induce a typical morphological modification from acute interstitial pancreatitis with pancreas edema, acinar cells necrosis, to chronic pancreatitis with persistent inflammation and permanent fibrosis in pancreas of mouse.

Disorder of MMP-1/TIMP-1 in pancreas

As shown in Figure 5, the expression of MMP-1mRNA and TIMP-1 mRNA in the pancreas was assessed by real-time PCR. Decreased MMP-1 levels were detected in pancreas samples obtained from mice with CP induced by DBTC and ethanol. Compared with the control group, the MMP-1 expression level decreased at 1 wk and went down more at 2 wk and sustained the low level at 4 as well as 8 wk in model group (P < 0.01).

Figure 5 MMP-1mRNA and TIMP-1mRNA changes in pancreas of mice with chronic pancreatitis induced DBTC-induced by dibutyltin dichloride joint ethanol drinking at the indicated time. A: MMP-1 mRNA expression in pancreas with Q-PCR; B: TIMP-1 mRNA expression in pancreas with Q-PCR. Values are shown as mean ± SD (n = 8). Results are expressed as mean ± SD. ^aP < 0.05 vs control.

Figure 5B showed the TIMP-1 mRNA expression level. One week after DBTC and ethanol application, TIMP-1 mRNA decreased significantly (P < 0.05). But it suddenly returned to a higher level at 2 wk and went up more at 4 wk (P < 0.05). At 8 wk, the TIMP-1 mRNA level went back to near normal.

DISCUSSION

Chronic Pancreatitis (CP) is a common disease which caused by biliary disorders or long-term alcohol drinking and showed specific pathological manifestations including localized or diffuse chronic inflammation in pancreatic parenchyma, and other irreversible damage in pancreatic acini and islet cell[15,16]. The shrink or disappear of pancreatic parenchyma causes significant clinical manifestations which is characterized by different degrees of disorder for pancreatic exocrine and endocrine function[17,18]. The patient’s life quality will be influenced seriously. Although the etiology of chronic pancreatitis is various, the eventual pathological change keeps in agreement. The sustained progress in chronic inflammation leads to atrophy in pancreatic parenchyma gradually and be replaced by fibrous tissue eventually. Progressive pancreatic fibrosis has been looked as the main pathological features.

According to the common clinical etiology,some experiment mimicked the inducer to make chronic pancreatitis in animals[19,20]. DBTC is a fat-soluble substances and excreted from liver, gallbladder to pancreatic duct after intravenous injection[11,21]. By drainage, pancreatic duct epithelial cells are damaged and cell necrosis appear. Damaged epithelium cells will be gathered, then caused the obstruction of pancreatic duct[8]. It mimics the pathologic progress of biliary tract diseases which is accompanied by pancreas and bile duct obstruction. In rats[22,23], some experiments showed administration of DBTC induced destruction of duct epithelial cells and that the clotting by necrotic cells caused an obstruction of the biliopancreatic duct and occurred chronic pancreatitis. At the same time adding ethanol into drinking water aggravated the toxic effects of DBTC on pancreas and lead to a stronger pancreatic fibrosis[24]. It was assured that the model with chronic fibrotic lesions in pancreas was induced by single intravenous injection of DBTC and additional daily ethanol ingestion. But until now,all experiments about the animal model induced by DBTC just have been performed in rat[8,11,22,23]. Because of the differences in the structure of pancreas and bile ducts between rat and mouse, it is not clear whether DBTC/ethanol can induce the model of chronic pancreatitis in mice. As we known, rat has no gall bladder, but mouse’s gall bladder structure is similar to human’s. So we adopted DBTC injection joint long-term consumption of ethanol to observe whether chronic pancreatitis could be induced in mice.

Our results showed that acute pancreatitis had developed with mild infiltration of neutrophilic granulocytes, acinar cell edema and necrosis at 1 wk. At 2 wk, we observed extreme dilatation of pancreatic duct, infiltration of lymphocytes and macrophages, as well as deposition of fiber. With the development of injury, pancreatic tissue was lost and replaced by irregular extended interstitial fibrosis at the end of 2 mo. The expression of FN and COL1A1 in pancreas, serum concentration of ECM component hyaluronic acid increased markedly at 2 wk and remained elevated level during the observation period. At the early stage, acute pancreatic injury incurred the overdue activation of amylase in serum. But at 8w, with the development of pancreatic fibrosis and loss of pancreatic tissue, the activity of amylase declined sharply. It implied that pancreatic exocrine was destroyed seriously. The morphological alterations in the pancreas and biological parameters suggested that the single intravenous application of DBTC and continuous ethanol drinking could induce a typical morphological modification from acute interstitial pancreatitis with pancreas edema, acinar cells necrosis, to chronic pancreatitis with persistent inflammation and permanent fibrosis in pancreas of mouse.

During the whole observation period, bilirubin level in serum was increased. The result indicated that the pathogenetic mechanism of the model included liver injury and obstruction of common biliopancreatic duct. Combined with the morphological alteration in extreme dilatation and epithelia cells necrosis of pancreatic duct, it was assured that DBTC induced destruction of duct epithelial cells and the clotting by necrotic cells caused an obstruction of the biliopancreatic duct and chronic pancreatitis.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a group of peptide enzyme depended on the zinc ions. Its main function is to degrade the ECM composition including collagen or fiber connection protein[25]. Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) are the most important family of molecules involved in regulation of extracellular MMP activity. TIMPs are produced by a wide variety of cells and often cosecreted with MMPs, providing local autoregulation of MMP activity. The activity of MMP can be inhibited by TIMPs[26]. There are 14 kinds of MMPs and 4 kinds of TIMPs have been found. The most important representative is MMP-1 and TIMP-1 respectively. MMP-1specifically degrades type I collagen, which is a major component of the extracellular matrix, as well as other types of collagens. Recent studies considered that it was accompanied with MMP-1 down-expression and TIMP-1 over-expression during the progress of fibrosis in liver or pancreas[27-29]. In this experiment, we induced chronic pancreatic fibrosis and assessed the level of MMP-1 mRNA and TIMP-1 mRNA in the mouse pancreas. MMP-1 expression level decreased at 1 wk and went down more at 2 wk, sustained the low level at 4 and 8 wk in model group. One week after DBTC and ethanol application, TIMP-1 mRNA decreased significantly. But it suddenly returned to a higher level at 2 wk and went up more at 4 wk. At 8 wk, the TIMP-1 mRNA level went back to near normal. As we known, the function of MMP-1 plays an important role in degrading the ECM composition[30]. Its low level leads to the low ability for degrading the ECM. TIMP-1 over-expression inhibited the activity of MMP-1, further weakened the capability of MMP-1 degrading type I collagen and caused the deposition of ECM in pancreas[31], namely pancreatic fibrosis.

It is worthwhile to note that the technician should master skillful technique for tail vein injection, and injection speed of DBTC must be slowly. As we known, DBTC was dissolved in ethanol and glycerin, so if DBTC solution was leaked into subcutaneous tissue of tail, the far end of tail would be necrosis and fall off. If the injection speed of DBTC was too fast, the sudden death would occur because of pulmonary embolism. In our experiment, the mortality rate was about 30% in model group. Four and eight weeks after administration of DBTC and ethanol, 71.4% of the survival mice showed periductal and interstitial fibrosis as well as an infiltration of inflammatory cells in the pancreas. Our results suggested that single intravenous application of DBTC and continuous ethanol drinking can induce chronic pancreatitis in accordance with the pathophysiological modification of human. DBTC joint Ethanol-induced pancreatitis in mice is an effective and handy experimental method. The model is suitable to study the mechanism of pancreatic fibrosis in chronic pancreatitis.

COMMENTS

Background

Biliary tract diseases and alcoholism have been regarded as the leading causes of chronic pancreatitis. It was assured that the model with chronic fibrotic lesions in pancreas was induced by single intravenous injection of dibutyltin dichloride (DBTC) and additional daily ethanol ingestion in rats.

Research frontiers

DBTC is a toxic substance and excreted from biliary and pancreatic duct. It can induced destruction of duct epithelial cells and caused an obstructive chronic pancreatitis. Ethanol aggravated the toxic effects of DBTC on pancreas and lead to a stronger pancreatic lesion.

Innovations and breakthroughs

There are some differences in the structure of bile ducts between rat and mouse. So it is not clear whether DBTC/ethanol can induce the model of chronic pancreatitis in mice. By assaying the pathophysiological change of pancreas, the authors look forward to search for a new chronic pancreatitis model in mice to investigate the pathophysiological processes leading to pancreatic fibrosis.

Applications

Single intravenous application of DBTC and continuous ethanol drinking can induce chronic pancreatitis in accordance with the pathophysiological modification of human. DBTC joint Ethanol-induced pancreatitis in mice is an effective and handy experimental method. The model is suitable to study the mechanism of pancreatic fibrosis in chronic pancreatitis.

Terminology

DBTC is a fat-soluble substance and excreted from liver, gallbladder to pancreatic duct after intravenous injection. By drainage, pancreatic duct epithelial cells were damaged and cell necrosis appeared. Damaged epithelium cells gathered, then caused the obstruction of pancreatic duct. It mimics the pathologic progress of biliary tract diseases which is accompanied by pancreas and bile duct obstruction.

Peer-review

The authors describe a mouse model of pancreatic fibrosis induced by a single DBTC injection associated with ad libitum alcohol consumption. This model has been used to experimental studies in rats but not in mice. They reproduce progressive histological and biochemical pancreatic changes after acute pancreatitis. The methods are well described and suitable to characterize the pathological events in the pancreas. The results are well presented and the original aim is accomplished: a chronic pancreatitis model in mice is described. The model permits to investigate the progression of acute pancreatitis towards a chronic process.