Abstract: Objective To observe and compare three chronic pancreatitis rat models including cerulean injection, pancreatic-bile duct ligation and L-arginine injection. Methods The rats were randomly divided into Cerulein group, Ligation group and Arginine group respectively. Chronic pancreatitis were induced by intraperitoneal injection or surgery according to the grouping. Blood amylase, ALT, glucose, TNF-α and IL-1β were detected on 3 d, 7 d and 14 d after modeling. Histopathological scores of pancreas were evaluated and collagen in pancreas was stained with Van Gieson method. Expression of TGF-β in pancreas were detected by RT-PCR method. Results There was no significant difference in serum ALT, glucose, TNF-α and IL-1β levels of three groups. On 3d time point, histopathological scores of Cerulein group were significantly lower than that of Ligation group and Arginine group. Reticulate red stained collagen could be found in all three groups. Expression of TGF-β in pancreas of Cerulein group was significantly lower than that of Ligation group. Conclusions Three chronic pancratitis models all have their advantages and disadvantages, and method using arginine in chronic pancreatitis model induction is more convenient.

Key words: Chronic pancreatitis, Animal model, Rat, Cerulein, Ligation, Arginine, Evaluation