Phospholipase-A₁ and -A₂ in experimental acute pancreatitis in rats

Summary

Using a standardized model of bile-induced acute pancreatitis, the reaction of phospholipase-A₁ activity was investigated in parallel to that of phospholipase-A₂, as well as their relationship to the pathomorphological spread of pancreatitis. While the measurement of the total free fatty acids (FFA) in serum as metabolites of phospholipase-A activity indicated variable reactions with the average remaining the same (0.186 ± 0.15 to 0.192 ± 0.153 mEq/l), phospholipase-A₂ exhibited a highly significant increase from 9.6 ± 2.2 to 18.2 ± 5.4 nmol/ml/min (P < 0.01). It was demonstrated that in parallel phospholipase-A₁ also showed a highly significant increase from 2.5 ± 1.2 to 6.7 ± 3.1 nmol/ml/min (P < 0.01). In relation to the pathomorphological score, both phospholipases showed a small increase at a low score (edema to focal necrosis), whereas in groups with a larger spread of the pancreatitis, score 5 or 6 (extended necrosis to retroperitoneal necrosis), the increase was substantially clearer. As a result of these findings, we conclude that phospholipase-A₁ could possibly be used as phospholipase-A₂ as an indicator of the severity of acute pancreatitis and that it should be taken into consideration in the very promising therapy with phospholipase-A-antagonists.