Chronic Pancreatitis (CP) Model in Bama Minipigs | Pancreatic Fibrosis Research

Model Description

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is an irreversible inflammatory disorder characterized by acinar atrophy, ductal distortion, and progressive interstitial fibrosis. Utilizing Bama minipigs—whose anatomical and physiological similarity to humans exceeds 90%—our model replicates human CP through main pancreatic duct ligation, achieving:

• Sustained ductal hypertension: Mimics calcific pancreatitis etiology
• Fibrosis progression: Collagen deposition ≥30% (validated via Sirius Red staining)
• Functional impairment: Reduced lipase/amylase secretion (≤50% vs controls)

Why Bama Minipigs?
✓ Human-scale pancreatic duct system for surgical precision
✓ Long-term disease progression (3-month modeling window)
✓ High translational relevance for therapeutic development

Applications

• Anti-fibrotic drug evaluation (TGF-β inhibitors, collagenase modulators)
• Pain management strategy validation (neuropathic pathway targeting)
• Endoscopic therapy testing (ductal stenting, lithotripsy)
• Gene therapy & regenerative medicine research

Modeling Protocol —— Main Pancreatic Duct Ligation

1. Surgical Procedure:

• Midline laparotomy below the xiphoid process under general anesthesia (isoflurane 2-4%)
• Main pancreatic duct isolation near the duodenal junction
• Ligation: 3-0 silk suture + polypropylene thread → 75% ductal occlusion post-thread dissolution

2. Modeling Phase:

• 3-month monitoring: Track weight loss, serum enzymes (lipase/amylase), and imaging changes
• Humane endpoints: >20% weight reduction ∙ Severe steatorrhea

Validation & Testing