Acanthopanax versus 3-Methyladenine Ameliorates Sodium Taurocholate-Induced Severe Acute Pancreatitis by Inhibiting the Autophagic Pathway in Rats

Objectives. To observe the therapeutic effects of Acanthopanax and 3-methyladenine against severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Methods. Sodium taurocholate-induced SAP rats were equally randomized into a SAP group, an Acanthopanax group, and a 3-methyladenine group. Serum amylase levels were determined by ELISA; protein and mRNA expression levels of nucleus nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65, light chain 3II (LC3-II), and Beclin-1 and mRNA expression levels of Class III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K-III) in pancreas tissue were detected by Western blot and quantitative real-time PCR, respectively; mortality and pathological change of the pancreas were observed at 3, 12, and 24 h after operation. Results. There was no significant difference in mortality between SAP group and both treatment groups (P > 0.05). Serum amylase levels, protein, and mRNA expression levels of nucleus NF-κB p65, LC3-II, and Beclin-1 protein, mRNA expression levels of PI3K-III, and pathological score of the pancreas in both treatment groups were significantly lower than those in SAP group at 12 and 24 h after operation (P < 0.05 or 0.01). The number of autophagosomes and autophagolysosomes of pancreatic acinar cells in both treatment groups was smaller than that in SAP group at 12 and 24 h. Conclusions. Acanthopanax and 3-methyladenine had similar therapeutic effects against SAP in rats. The mechanism may be through inhibiting abnormal autophagy activation of pancreatic acinar cells.