Protective effects of Chaiqin Chengqi Decoction on isolated pancreatic acinar cells in acute pancreatitis rats and the mechanisms / 中西医结合学报

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effects of Chaiqin Chengqi Decoction (CQCQD), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on acinar cells and the changes of intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)]i) in acute pancreatitis (AP) rats. METHODS: CQCQ serum (CQCQS) was prepared by intragastric administration of CQCQD in SD rats, and AP was induced in SD rats by biliary-pancreatic duct ligation method. Pancreatic acinar cells were isolated by collagenase digestion and co-incubated with the drug serum containing CQCQD in vitro, then cell viability was determined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) method and intracellular fluorescent intensity (FI) was observed and analyzed to investigate the changes of intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)]i). RESULTS: Both 5% and 10% CQCQS could improve the viability of pancreatic acinar cells in AP rats (P<0.05), and 10% CQCQS was more effective than 5% CQCQS (P<0.05). [Ca(2+)]i was elevated in AP rats (P<0.05), while the level of [Ca(2+)]i elevation was reduced after CQCQS treatment (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: CQCQD has a protective effect on pancreatic acinar cells of AP rats, which may be associated with its inhibition effect on intracellular calcium overload.