The aim of this study was to investigate the expression pattern of regenerating gene I (Reg I) in the lung and intestinal tissues of rats with
acute necrotizing pancreatitis (
ANP), as well as the correlation of Reg I expression with lung and intestinal injury. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated to control (n=40) and
ANP (n=80) groups. The rats in the control group received
laparotomy only. In the
ANP group, 3%
sodium taurocholate was injected into the pancreatic duct to develop the
ANP model. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to detect the Reg I
mRNA levels in the pancreas, intestine and lung. The pathological changes in the pancreas, intestine and lung were observed and the serum
amylase levels, the wet/dry weight ratio of the lung and the permeability of the intestinal mucosa were measured. The measured parameters were found to correlate with the Reg I
mRNA levels. Reg I
mRNA was more highly expressed in the pancreas, intestine and lung in the
ANP rats than in the control group. The Reg I expression levels were positively correlated with the pathological scores, serum
amylase levels, lung pathological scores, lung tissue wet/dry ratios, intestinal pathological scores and intestinal permeability. The levels of Reg I were increased in the lung and intestinal tissue of the
ANP rats and the expression levels of Reg I correlated closely with the severity of the lung and intestinal injury.