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Updated: May 18, 2026

Preparing a Mice Model of Severe Acute Pancreatitis via a Combination of Caerulein and Lipopolysaccharide Intraperitoneal Injection
Published on: May 10, 2024
Heme oxygenase 1-generated carbon monoxide and biliverdin attenuate the course of experimental necrotizing
Philipp Nuhn1, Tomas Mitkus, Güralp O Ceyhan
1Department of Surgery, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
Objective:
The cytoprotective enzyme heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) is highly up-regulated in acute pancreatitis (AP). In this study, we tested its metabolites as potential therapeutic agents for AP in rats.
Methods:
Acute necrotizing pancreatitis was induced by retrograde intraductal injection of sodium taurocholate in rats. Biliverdin hydrochloride (BV HCl) (50 μmol/kg subcutaneously), the carbon monoxide, donor methylene chloride (MC) (500 mg/kg orally), or iron-chelating desferrioxamine (DFO) (125 mg/kg subcutaneously) were administered in a therapeutic manner starting with the first dose 4 hours after taurocholate injection to mimic the effects of HO-1 metabolites.
Results:
Administration of BV HCl, MC, or DFO showed significant reduction of inflammatory activity in comparison to controls leading to lower myeloperoxidase activity in the pancreas, less edema, lower ascites volumes, and preservation of tissue integrity (P < 0.05). Administration of either BV HCl or MC markedly increased 5-day survival rate (70% and 75% vs 40%; P < 0.05), whereas DFO had no significant effect on survival (60%). When given in therapeutic manner, all 3 substances led to diminished nuclear factor κB activity in the pancreas (P < 0.05).
Conclusions:
Therapeutic use of BV HCl and MC led to marked reduction of mortality in experimental pancreatitis. Thus, HO-1 metabolites may present a novel therapeutic approach in AP treatment.
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