Direct effects of ethanol on exocrine secretion from the in vitro rabbit pancreas.

Abstract

The direct effects of ethanol on the exocrine function of thein vitro rabbit pancreas were studied and shown to be time and concentration dependent. The rabbit pancreas was incubated with varying concentrations of ethanol: 0% (n=11); 0.3% (n=10); 1.0% (n=10), and 3% (n=19). Pancreatic juice was collected for 1 hr before and 2 hr after addition of ethanol and changes in volume and enzyme concentrations were analyzed (Wilcoxon test). No significant changes in volume, protein concentration, trypsin inhibitory capacity, or the concentrations of α-amylase, trypsinogen, or chymotrypsinogen were detected with 0% and 0.3% ethanol. Significant reductions in protein, trypsinogen, and chymotrypsinogen concentrations as well as trypsin inhibitory capacity were noted during the second hour of exposure to 1.0% ethanol (P<0.01). With 3.0% ethanol, significant increases in volume (P<0.01), protein concentration (P<0.02), and the concentrations of α-amylase (P<0.05), trypsinogen (P<0.02), and chymotrypsinogen (P<0.05) were detected during the first hour after addition of ethanol; however, during this period there was a decrease in trypsin inhibitory capacity which fell further in the second hour after ethanol (P<0.05). The levels of trypsin inhibitor secreted per milligram of protein decreased significantly in the second hour after the addition of 1% ethanol (P<0.05) and in both hours after 3% ethanol (P<0.01 and P=0.02); this could be of importance in leading to the premature activation of proteolytic enzymes and the development of acute pancreatitis.