Effect of high fiber intake on pancreatic lysosomal stability in ethanol-fed rats

Abstract

Chronic ethanol consumption increases the fragility of pancreatic lysosomes, but the effect of a high fiber intake, alone or combined with alcohol abuse, on the lysosomal stability has not been studied. Furthermore, it is not yet known whether these treatments could predispose the exocrine pancreas to a greater damage after cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis. Cytosolic specific activity of three lysosomal enzymes, N-acetyl-β- d-glucosaminidase (NAG), cathepsin B, and β-glucuronidase were measured, as an index of lysosomal stability in pancreas from control rats and rats under chronic alcohol and/or high fiber intake. Cathepsin B is the only enzyme with significantly increased specific activity after chronic ethanol consumption and, moreover, its specific activity undergoes the highest increase after cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis, in all the groups of rats, when compared with the remainder enzymes. When pancreatitis was induced by cerulein, the combination of chronic alcohol and high fiber intake produces a significant decrease in the cytosolic specific activity of N-acetyl-β- d-glucosaminidase and β-glucuronidase when compared with chronic alcohol alone. Our results suggest that fiber partially avoids the damage of ethanol on pancreatic lysosomes, reducing the effects of pancreatitis.