alpha-Tocopherol Treatment Ameliorates Chronic Pancreatitis in an Experimental Rat Model Induced by Trinitrobenzene Sulfonic Acid

Objective: To investigate the effects of alpha-tocopherol on pancreatic fibrosis and survival in rats with experimental chronic pancreatitis induced by trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS). Methods: Chronic pancreatitis was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by infusion of TNBS into the pancreatic duct. alpha-tocopherol (300, 600 or 900 mg/kg) was orally administered to rats with experimental pancreatitis (treatment group) daily for 4 weeks. The relative pancreatic weight, pancreatic pseudocyst and death rate were observed. Paraffin-embedded tissue samples were sliced, stained by hematoxylin-eosin and histopathologically examined. Results: alpha-Tocopherol administration significantly ameliorated the pancreatic weight loss induced by TNBS in chronic pancreatitis rats compared to the control group. There were pancreatic pseudocysts in 69% of the alpha-tocopherol group, and in 100% of the control group. alpha-tocopherol administration led to a significant increase of the survival rate. The histopathologic scores were higher in the control group than in the alpha-tocopherol group. Subgroup analysis of histopathologic scores revealed that a high dose of alpha-tocopherol results in less pancreatic injuries. Conclusion: alpha-tocopherol treatment elevates survival rate, extenuates fibrosis and increases relative pancreatic weight in the chronic pancreatitis model. alpha-Tocopherol therapy in chronic pancreatitis is now required to confirm these findings and establish the role of this treatment in the management of this disabling condition. Copyright (C) 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel and IAP