• Nuriye Esen Bulut, Erkan Özkan, Osman Ekinci, Ender Dulundu, Ümit Topaloğlu, Ahmet Özer Şehirli, Feriha Ercan, and Göksel Şener.
• Department of General Surgery, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
• Ulus Travma Acil Cer. 2011 Sep 1;17(5):383-9.

BackgroundThe present study aimed to determine the effects of alpha lipoic acid (ALA) on blood and tissue biochemical parameters, as well as tissue histopathology, in an experimental rat model of cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis (AP).MethodsThree groups consisting of eight rats each were used, as follows: Group 1, controls; Group 2, cerulein-induced pancreatitis group treated with saline; and Group 3, cerulein-induced pancreatitis group treated with ALA. AP was induced by intraperitoneal administration of cerulein (20 µg/kg) 4 times at 1-hour intervals. The animals were decapitated 12 hours after the last dose of cerulein. Blood amylase, lipase, interleukin (IL)-1ß, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels, pancreas tissue glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, as well as myeloperoxidase (MPO) and Na+-K+-ATPase activity were measured. Pancreatic tissue samples were also evaluated histopathologically under a light microscope.ResultsWhile plasma amylase, lipase, IL-1ß, and TNF-α levels, and tissue MDA and MPO levels significantly increased in rats with cerulean-induced AP, tissue GSH and Na+-K+-ATPase activity significantly reduced. These changes were reversed and improved with ALA treatment.ConclusionOur findings suggest that ALA may significantly reduce morbidity and mortality by preventing organ dysfunction induced by free radicals in the pancreas.

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