N-Acetylcysteine Improves Pancreatic Microcirculation and Alleviates the Severity of Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis

BACKGROUND/AIMS To investigate the beneficial effect of N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) on pancreatic microvascular perfusion in acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP). METHODS Fifty-four rats were divided into a control group, an ANP group and an NAC-treated group. The ANP model was established by a retrograde injection of 3% sodium taurocholate into the pancreatic duct. The NAC-treated group received an intravenous infusion of NAC just 2 hours before and 30 minutes after the induction of ANP. The pancreatic microvascular perfusion was measured with laser Doppler flowmetry and pancreatic samples were collected for histological examination. RESULTS The microvascular perfusion in the NAC-treated group decreased slightly and exhibited a significant increase compared to the ANP group (p<0.01). A pathological examination revealed that edema and inflammatory infiltration decreased, and the hemorrhaging and necrosis of the pancreas were significantly reduced. CONCLUSIONS NAC could improve pancreatic microvascular perfusion and alleviate the severity of sodium taurocholate-induced ANP, possibly representing a new therapeutic approach to prevent the progression of ANP.