AND PURPOSE Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) is characterized by trypsinogen activation infiltration of leucocytes and cells necrosis but the intracellular signalling mechanisms regulating organ injury in the pancreas remain elusive. was considered significant and represents the quantity of animals. Results Rho-kinase activity regulates tissue damage in pancreatitis To study the part of Rho-kinase we 1st examined blood amylase levels as an indication of tissue damage in SAP. It was found that retrograde infusion of sodium taurocholate into the pancreatic duct enhanced blood amylase levels by nearly 17-collapse (Number 1 < 0.05 vs. sham = 5?7). Administration of BIIB021 the Rho-kinase inhibitor Y-27632 reduced taurocholate-provoked levels of blood amylase from 834.4 ± 117.3 μKat·L?1 down to 141.2 ± 28.5 μKat·L?1 related to an 83% reduction (Number 1 < 0.05 vs. vehicle + taurocholate = 5-7). Morphological exam revealed that pancreas cells from control animals had a normal microstructure (Number 2 = 5-7) MGC102762 whereas taurocholate challenge caused severe damage of the pancreatic cells structure characterized by considerable acinar cell necrosis oedema and massive infiltration of neutrophils (Number 2 = 5-7). It was observed that Rho-kinase inhibition safeguarded against taurocholate-induced damage of the cells structure (Number 2 = 5-7). For example inhibition of Rho-kinase activity decreased taurocholate-induced acinar cell necrosis by 90% and oedema by 58% in the pancreas (Number 3A and B < 0.05 vs. vehicle + taurocholate = 5-7). Indeed the number of circulating MNL and neutrophils improved in SAP indicating systemic activation with this model (Table 1). Rho-kinase inhibition reversed systemic changes in leucocyte differential counts towards baseline levels in settings (Table 1). Notably administration of 5 mg·kg?1 Y-27632 (= 6) after induction of pancreatitis had no effect on taurocholate-induced acinar cell necrosis oedema or infiltration of neutrophils in pancreas (not shown). Table 1 Systemic leucocyte differential counts Number 1 Blood amylase (μKat·L?1) in sham and control animals infused with BIIB021 saline alone into the pancreatic duct. Animals were treated with PBS or the Rho-kinase inhibitor Y-27632 (0.5-5.0 mg·kg?1) before infusion ... Number 2 Representative haematoxylin and eosin stained sections of the pancreas. (A) Sham animals and (B) control animals infused with saline only into the pancreatic duct. Taurocholate-exposed mice were pretreated with (C) PBS or (D) 5 mg·kg?1 ... Number 3 Rho-kinase regulates taurocholate-induced tissue damage in the pancreas. (A) Acinar cell necrosis and (B) oedema formation in sham control (saline only into the pancreatic duct) and taurocholate-exposed mice pretreated with PBS or the Rho-kinase inhibitor ... Rho-kinase activity settings neutrophil recruitment in pancreatitis Pancreatic levels of MPO were used like a marker of inflammatory cell infiltration. Maximum levels of MPO were observed 24 h after taurocholate challenge (not demonstrated) and this time-point was used for subsequent studies of BIIB021 neutrophil infiltration in the pancreas. It was found that challenge with taurocholate enhanced pancreatic levels of MPO by seven-fold (Number 4A < 0.05 vs. sham = 5-7). Inhibition of Rho-kinase signalling decreased taurocholate-induced MPO levels in the pancreas by 73% (Number 4A < 0.05 vs. vehicle BIIB021 + taurocholate = 5-7). Moreover histological analysis of pancreatic cells showed that taurocholate challenge provoked a clear-cut enhancement in extravascular neutrophils (Number 4B < 0.05 vs. sham = 5-7). Notably administration of 5 mg·kg?1 Y-27632 reduced taurocholate-provoked infiltration of neutrophils in the pancreas by 88% (Number 4B < 0.05..