Effect of activating blood circulation and removing blood stasis on recurrence of alcoholic acute pancreatitis, and the possible underlying mechanism

Purpose: To determine the effect of activating blood circulation and removing blood stasis on the recurrence of alcoholic acute pancreatitis (AAP), and its possible mechanism.Methods: Sixty healthy rats were selected and assigned to control, model and treatment groups (n =20/group). Treatment group was given Taohong Siwu decoction, while control and model groups were given abdominal injection of 0.9 % normal saline. Serum levels of amylase, pancreatic histopathological score, col Ⅰ content, mRNA expression levels of TGF-β 1, TβRII, and Smad3, as well as sPLA2 activity, were determined.Results: Serum amylase, pancreatic histopathological score and col Ⅰ content were significantly reduced in treatment group, relative to model group, while relative mRNA expressions of TGF- β 1, TβRII and Smad3 at each time point were significantly lower than those in the model group (p < 0.05). Serum PLA2 activity and sPLA2 - π a mRNA expression were significantly lower than those in the model group (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Activation of blood circulation and removal of blood stasis significantly prevents the relapse of AAP in rats through regulation of PLA2 activity and TGF-β1/TβRII/Smad3 signaling pathway. Cohort studies in humans would be required to confirm the application of Taohong Siwu decoction to prevent recurrence of AAP.