Fig. 2. Apoptosis. Single-strand DNA–positive cells ( green ) after 15 h in Sham ( A ), Pancreatitis ( C ), or Pancreatitis + Thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA) ( E ). Nuclei are counterstained with 4′,6- diamidino-2-phenylindole ( blue ). Final magnification is 120-fold. The numbers of single-strand DNA–positive cells increased 15 h after induction of acute pancreatitis (* P < 0.05 vs. Sham). This increase was prevented in Pancreatitis + TEA (§ P < 0.05 vs. Pancreatitis) ( B ). These effects were also significant when hepatocytes were evaluated separately ( D ). In nonparenchymal cells ( F ), there was a trend toward a protective effect in Pancreatitis + TEA. Data are presented as mean with the error bar denoting the 95% confidence interval; n = 8 in Sham, and n = 7 in Pancreatitis and Pancreatitis + TEA.