Inhibition of pancreatic stellate cell activation by the vitamin A and vitamin E as a therapy for prevention fibrogenesis in experimental chronic alcoholic pancreatitis

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of Vitamin A and Vitamin E on activity of pancreatic stellate cells and fibrosis changes in pancreas after distal pancreatectomy in rats with experimental alcohol-induced chronic pancreatitis. Simultaneously Vitamin A and Vitamin E were administered after distal pancreatectomy in rats with experimental alcohol-induced chronic pancreatitis. The animals were treated withVitamin A at the dose of 33000 IU/kg body weight per day and Vitamin E at the dose of 100 mg/kg body weight per day for three weeks (21 days) after operation. To estimate the efficacy of the treatment on activity and numbersof pancreatic stellate cells the immunohistochemicalinvestigation was made with alpha-smooth muscle actin, desmin, vimentin, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP2) using. The treatment of rats after operation with vitamin A and vitamin E inhibited activity of pancreatic stellate cells and characterized by significant decreasing of the alpha-smooth muscle actin, Desmin, Vimentin, MMP1 and TIMP2 expression. The ratio of MMP1/TIMP2 was greater in the group with treatment then in the control group. This therapy had a trend to decrease the expression of GFAPand alleviate the fibrotic changes in pancreas.