Abstract: Objective To investigate plasma endothelin levels and the expression of endothelin in the kidneys and determine the role of endothelin in the pathogenesis of renal injury in rats with acute hemorrhagic and necrotic pancreatitis(AHNP). Methods AHNP was induced in rats by intraductal administration of 5% sodium taurocholate. The concentrations of endothelin in plasma were determined with radioimmunoassay. The pathologic morphologic changes of kidney were observed under light microscope and electron microscope.The expression of endothelin in the kidney was determined through immunohistochemistry. Results The concentration of plasma endothelin was elevated 3 h after inducement. Compared with the control group, the concentration of plasma endothelin in each AHNP groups were higher and the longer the time after inducement, the higher the concentrations and the more severe pathological alteration of pancreatic and renal tissue in AHNP rats. The positive staining of endothelin was mainly localized at the epithelial cells of tubules and glomerular endothelial cells . And along with the development of AHNP, the renal injury was more significant and serious accompanied with the increase of the expression of ET in the renal tissue.Conclusion Our findings suggest that endothelin contributes to the development and aggravation of the renal failure in the course of AHNP. The increase of ET levels can lead to the renal microcirculatory disturbance and proliferation of mesangial cells, which might be one of the pathogens to induce the renal damage in rats.[

Key words: acute hemorrhagic and necrotizing pancreatitis, renal injury, endothelin