Intestinal ischaemia-reperfusion increases plasma amylin concentration in rats

Intestinal ischaemia-reperfusion and hyperamylinaemia are both associated with severe acute pancreatitis. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between intestinal-ischaemia reperfusion and plasma amylin in an experimental model. Wistar rats (n = 24, 400-450 g) were divided into three groups: (1) a sham (S)-operated group (n = 7) that underwent laparotomy and isolation (without clamping) of the superior mesenteric artery, (2) an ischaemia-reperfusion (IR) group (n = 7) that had clamping of the superior mesenteric artery for 60 min followed by 15 min reperfusion, and (3) a control (C) group (n = 10) that underwent no surgery. Amylin was significantly elevated in the IR group (median 39 pM, range 30-44) compared with the S group (19 pM, range 15-45; Mann-Whitney U, p < 0.05) and the C group (24 pM, range 15-55; p < 0.01). Insulin was significantly elevated in the IR group (2060 pM, range 1000-4650) compared with the S group (558 pM, range 424-2020; p < 0.01). There was a significant positive correlation between amylin and insulin (R = 0.82, F = 46.6, p < 0.0001), but not between amylin and glucose or insulin and glucose. Intestinal histology was consistent with an ischaemia-reperfusion injury, whereas pancreatic histology was normal. The unique finding that plasma amylin concentration is increased with intestinal ischaemia-reperfusion injury warrants further investigation.