A new rat model to study the correlation of cardiac and skeletal muscle allograft rejection.

As a first step to study the correlation of cardiac and skeletal muscle allograft rejection, we describe a new experimental rat model of simultaneous heterotopic heart and cutaneous maximus muscle flap allotransplant. Brown Norway rats were used as donors and Lewis rats as recipients. No immunosuppression was given.

Dopamine in models of alcoholic acute pancreatitis.

Acute oedematous pancreatitis and acute haemorrhagic pancreatitis were studied using the low pressure duct perfusion models of alcoholic pancreatitis in cats. After creating either form over 24 hours, each pancreas was histologically graded and assigned an inflammatory score (0-16; absent-severe). Urinary trypsinogen activation peptide concentrations were also used as a measure of severity.

Compartment syndrome in experimental chronic obstructive pancreatitis: effect of decompressing the main pancreatic duct.

Chronic pancreatitis is characterized by persistent and severe pain, which can be relieved by decompression of the main pancreatic duct (MPD). Both ductal and interstitial pressures have been shown to be increased in chronic pancreatitis in patients. A study was carried out of pancreatic interstitial pressure and pancreatic blood flow in normal cats and those in which chronic obstructive pancreatitis had been induced 5 weeks earlier to determine the effect of decompression of the MPD.

Pancreatic blood flow in cats with chronic pancreatitis.

Pancreatic blood flow and its relationship to pancreatic interstitial pressure were investigated in a model of chronic pancreatitis in cats using a hydrogen gas-clearance technique with an intraductal electrode. The intraductal technique correlated well with blood flow measurements made using gamma-labeled microspheres (r = 0.88, P less than 0.

Pancreatic ductal and interstitial pressures in cats with chronic pancreatitis.

We investigated the etiology of interstitial hypertension in chronic pancreatitis by examining the relationship between pancreatic ductal and interstitial pressures in cats. The main pancreatic duct was cannulated in the tail of the gland and perfused at 1, 2, or 5 ml/hr, to simulate pancreatic secretion. Intraductal and interstitial pressures were measured in four groups of animals: (1) normal cats; (2) normal cats after acutely narrowing the main duct to 25% of its original diameter; (3) normal cats after encasing the body and tail in a rigid latex capsule; and (4) cats with chronic pancreatitis created by narrowing the main duct five weeks earlier.

The antiinflammatory effect of dopamine in alcoholic hemorrhagic pancreatitis in cats. Studies on the receptors and mechanisms of action.

Hemorrhagic pancreatitis was induced in cats by perfusing pancreatic enzymes through a pancreatic duct after the administration of intragastric ethanol. Dimethyl prostaglandin E2 was administered concurrently. In the first study, dopamine's antiinflammatory effect on the pancreas was determined in the presence of haloperidol, propranolol, or both.

The effect of dopamine in a model of biliary acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis.

Perfusion of the main pancreatic duct in cats with a dilute solution of bile salts increases ductal permeability. Subsequent perfusion of a permeable duct with activated pancreatic enzymes results in acute edematous pancreatitis. Simultaneous infusion of 16-16 dimethyl-PgE2 converts edematous pancreatitis to acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis (AHP).

Low dose dopamine protects against hemorrhagic pancreatitis in cats.

Acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis (HP) is probably associated with decreased blood flow in its early phases, as well as with an increase in microvascular permeability. Dopamine (DOP; 5 micrograms/kg-min) is a splanchnic vasodilator, and also has beta-adrenergic effects that can prevent increases in microvascular permeability. We hypothesized that low dose dopamine might have beneficial effects on both blood flow and microvascular permeability, thus ameliorating the severity of the disease.