Prostacyclin (PGI2) stabilises hepatic lysosomes during acute experimental pancreatitis in dogs.

In 15 mongrel dogs acute experimental pancreatitis (AEP) was induced by injection of bile and trypsin into the pancreatic duct. After 12 hrs in lysosomal enriched subfraction of the liver in untreated group (N = 5) relative free activity of cathepsins (Cs), acid phosphatase (AP) and beta-glucuronidase (beta G) increased to 50,62, and 53% respectively in comparison to the healthy dogs (N = 6) : 19,43 and 20%. In dogs with AEP treated with prostacyclin (PGI2) in the dose of 20 ng/kg X min for 12 hrs these activities of Cs, AP and beta G were lowered to 30,55 and 41% in comparison with the untreated group. In dogs with AEP (N = 5) additionally pretreated during 1 hr before the induction of AEP with the same rate of PGI2 i.v. infusion, the relative free activity of enzymes was similar to the treated group. After two hrs incubation of lysosomal enriched subfraction in acidic medium (pH = 5,0), the highest values of relative free activity were observed in untreated group, the difference being more pronounced in comparison with control group than before incubation. In those animals treated and pretreated with PGI2, postincubation activities were much lower than in untreated dogs. These results suggest the stabilising effect of PGI2 on hepatic lysosomes, damaged during the course of AEP in dogs.