The renal lysosomes in acute experimental pancreatitis in dogs treated with prostacyclin (PGI2)

The inflammatory process in pancreas affects the function and structure of kidneys both by enzymatic toxemia and impairment of the renal circulation. In this study the stability of renal lysosomes in AEP in dogs treated with cytoprotective agent PGI2 was investigated. AEP was induced by injection of the bile and trypsin into the pancreatic duct; experiments were terminated after 12 hours. In lysosomal enriched subfraction of the kidney cortex (sedimenting in 15 000 x g) in untreated group (N = 5) relative free activity (r.f.a.) of cathepsins (Cs), acid phosphatase (APh) and beta-glucuronidase (BG) increased to 51,67 and 62% respectively, whereas in healthy dogs (N = 6) these activities were 20,38 and 25%. In dogs (N = 6) treated with PGI2 at the dose of 20 ng/kg/min. during 12 hrs, the r.f.a. of Cs, APh and BG was 18,40 and 49%, whereas in dogs (N = 5) additionally pretreated during 1 hr before induction of AEP with the same dose of PGI2, its values achieved 19,40 and 47% respectively. Our results suggest the stabilizing effect of PGI2 on kidney lysosomes damaged in acute experimental pancreatitis in dog. As possible mechanisms of prostacyclin action are discussed: limitation of necrotic process in the pancreas; improvement of renal haemodynamics; direct cytoprotective effect on the kidney.