Therapeutic effects of Saussurea involucrata injection against severe acute pancreatitis- induced brain injury in rats

Abstract Objectives To observe the therapeutic effects of Saussurea involucrata (Sau) injection against severe acute pancreatitis (SAP)-induced brain injury. Methods Sodium taurocholate-induced SAP-modeled rats were equally randomized into an SAP model group (SAP group) and a Sau treated group (Sau  +  S group). Healthy rats were equally randomized into a Sau treated group (Sau  +  H group) and a sham operation group (SO group). Serum amylase levels, endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO) contents were determined by optical turbidimetry, ELISA and nitrate reductase method respectively. Western blot was used to detect protein expression levels of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (Akt), ET-1, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and endothelial NOS (eNOS) while mRNA levels of these biomarkers in brain tissue were measured by quantitative real-time PCR. Furthermore, pathological changes, as well as all above indexes of pancreas and brain, were observed at 6, 24 and 48 h after administration. Results There was a significant difference in mortality between SAP and Sau  +  S groups ( P  P  P P  P   0.01). There were no significant differences in all indexes between Sau + H and SO groups at all designated time points ( P   >  0.05). Conclusions Sau injection has therapeutic effects on SAP-induced brain injury in rats.