Publications by authors named "Aranzazu Urunuela"

Cholecystokinin (CCK) has been suggested to be a contributory mediator in acute pancreatitis (AP). The aim of the present study was to assess the role of CCK in the development of oxidative stress at different stages of AP induced by pancreatic duct obstruction (PDO) in rats, using L364,718 (a potent CCK-receptor antagonist) to block CCK action. Intra-acinar oxygen free radical (OFR) generation was analysed by flow cytometry using dihydrorhodamine-123 as a fluorogenic dye.

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Biologic data related to pancreatic regeneration and acinar-cell homeostasis after ductal decompression would be useful in clinical settings to elucidate the time at which obstructions in human biliary acute pancreatitis (AP) should be removed. Our aim was to evaluate the outcome of AP after early removal of bile-pancreatic-duct obstruction (BPDO) and to ascertain whether cholecystokinin (CCK) blockade accelerates recovery from the disease. We conducted analysis of apoptosis and cell cycle, as well as measurements of enzyme and calcium load, in acinar cells using flow cytometry to ascertain the capability of the pancreas to regain its function after AP.

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The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the most potent CCK receptor antagonist, L364,718, on two major factors involved in pancreatitis development: enzyme load and cytosolic calcium (Ca2+) levels in acinar cells. L364,718 (0.1 mg/kg/12 hr) was administered from 30 min before inducing acute pancreatitis (AP) by pancreatic duct obstruction (PDO) for 48 hr.

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Current evidence suggests that alterations within acinar cells are responsible for the development of acute pancreatitis. After inducing acute pancreatitis in rats by pancreatic duct obstruction, we analysed, using flow cytometry, the progressive changes in cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations in individual acinar cells from the earliest stages to 48 h after obstruction to investigate whether parallel alterations in the homoeostasis of Ca2+ could be defined in the different acinar cells throughout the evolution of pancreatitis. Morphological alterations of the pancreas, related to the severity of the disease at different stages, were observed by electron microscopy.

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