Radioimmunoreactive serum elastase levels and histologic changes during experimental pancreatitis in rats
K. Satake, Y. S. Chung, T. Yoshimoto, K. Umeyama, T. Ohyama and K. Katayama
A radioimmunoassay system showed elastase levels of 128 to 232 ng/mL in
normal rat serum. The average normal value was approximately 64-fold
greater than the minimal detectable amount. No cross-immunoreactivity was
found with human elastase 1, porcine elastase, and trypsin. The elastase
and amylase levels in rat serum were measured during pancreatitis induced
by trypsin (group 1) and normal saline solution (group 2). Within 15
minutes the serum elastase and amylase levels increased significantly and
remained elevated. The serum elastase levels in group 1 were significantly
higher than in group 2. Hemorrhagic pancreatitis was found in group 1 and
edematous pancreatitis was found in group 2 five hours after induction of
pancreatitis. Elastase levels in these tissues were significantly lower
than those in normal tissue. The levels in ascitic fluid were higher than
those found in serum.