Fig. 6

a, b AP was induced by caerulein and 3% NaT, and H&E staining showed that pancreatic damage was more severe in the 3% NaT group than in the caerulein group. c, d miR-9 expression was lower in damaged pancreatic tissues and the serum of AP rats than in the NC or Sham group. Data are shown as the mean ± SD. ^&&&p < 0.001 and ^###p < 0.01, compared with NC, *p < 0.05, compared with NC, ^%%%p < 0.001, compared with Sham, ^$$p < 0.01, compared with Caerulein group by using paired t test. e Western blot analysis showed that angiogenic genes (VEGFA, Ang-1, TIE-2, p-AKT, CXCR4) were downregulated in damaged pancreatic tissues. f The level of miR-9 and the expression of angiogenic genes were negatively correlated with the severity of AP, and miR-9 was positively correlated with angiogenesis-related as determined by Pearson’s correlation analysis (p < 0.05). AP, acute pancreatitis; H&E, hematoxylin eosin; NC, normal control; NaT, sodium taurocholate; SD, standard deviation; miR-9, microRNA-9