Fig. 2. Mlkl^−/− mice showed increased inflammation after caerulein treatment.

A Schematic diagram of caerulein-induced experimental AP in vivo. Mlkl^+/− and Mlkl^−/− mice were intraperitoneally injected with either 100 µg/kg caerulein or saline every hour for eight consecutive hours. The mice were sacrificed at 2, 4, 8, and 24 h after the first injection. The total weight gain (B), pancreatic weight (C), and the ratio of pancreatic weight to final body weight (D) were determined. E Pancreatic edema formation was determined by the wet/dry weight ratio in mice sacrificed at 3 h after the last injection. The results are representative of three independent experiments with a minimum of five mice per group. F The cell number in each group was determined by an automated cell counter. G, H Representative H&E images of the pancreas and histological scores of pancreatic edema, necrosis, and inflammation were evaluated in mice sacrificed 8 and 24 h after the first injection; saline or 100 µg/kg caerulein was injected every hour for eight consecutive hours (n = 6−15 in each group). The data are presented as the means ± SEMs. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, and ***P < 0.001. These data are representative of three experiments.