Effect of cerulein hyperstimulation on the paracellular barrier of rat exocrine pancreas

Cerulein-induced pancreatitis causes a rapid increase in pancreatic enzyme levels in serum and decreases in pancreatic duct secretion and interstitial edema. One mechanism to explain these early events is disruption of the actin tight junction paracellular seal of acinar and intralobular pancreatic duct cells. To examine the paracellular barrier of the proximal exocrine pancreas, rats were hyperstimulated with 5.0 μg · kg⁻¹ · h⁻¹ of cerulein. Actin was visualized with rhodamine phalloidin and by electron microscopy and tight junctions were visualized with antibodies to the tight-junction protein ZO-1. Paracellular permeability was measured by movement of horseradish peroxidase from interstitium into duct or acinar lumens. In controls, linear actin and ZO-1 staining occurred along the apical membrane of intralobular duct cells and extended to the apical pole of acinar cells. Hyperstimulation caused progressive disruption of the linear staining of f-actin and ZO-1. Actin disruption in duct cells was confirmed by electron microscopy. Horseradish peroxidase entered intralobular ducts and acinar lumens of hyperstimulated animals more frequently than those of controls. The structure and function of the paracellular barrier of acinar and intralobular pancreatic duct cells are disrupted early during cerulein pancreatitis and may contribute to early clinical features.