Background: Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a disease process characterized by irreversible damage to the pancreas.
Objective: evaluate the possible therapeutic effect of ghrelin and exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of chronic pancreatitis.
Materials and Methods: Sixty-two adult male albino rats were randomly divided into six groups. Group I (control group). Group II (affected group): Rats were received intraperitoneal injection of l-arginine at a dose of 500 mg/100g body weight that is 2.5 ml of l-arginine solution/100 g body weight five times at three days intervals, freshly dissolved in citrate buffer. Group III (recovery group). Group IV: CP treated with ghrelin. Group V: CP treated with MSCs derived exosomes. Group VI: CP treated with ghrelin and MSCs derived exosomes. Pancreatic specimens were taken and processed for histological and immunohistochemical examination.
Results: Group II and III displayed signs of degeneration. There were distorted acini with extensive cytoplasmic vacuolization, apparent reduction in the number of cells of islets, empty spaces between cell cords of islets, dilated congested blood vessels and cellular infiltration. Furthermore, there was intense positive collagen fibers deposition, iNOS and CD8 immunostaining. Groups IV and V showed improvement of some histological microscopic changes described in group II, significant decrease (P