The Possible Effects of Caffeine and Nicotine on the Pathogenesis of Experimentally Induced Alcoholic Pancreatitis: A Histological and Immunohistochemical Study

Abstract

Introduction: The incidence of pancreatitis has increased in recent decades and alcohol was recognized as one of themajor causes of pancreatitis as well as gall stones. Nicotine is a major toxin in tobacco and cigarettes and may influence thedevelopment of pancreatitis. Caffeine is a natural stimulant widely consumed psychoactive drug.Aim: This study was done to evaluate the influence of nicotine and caffeine on the pathogenesis of alcohol-induced pancreatitis.Materials and Methods: Forty adult male Wister albino rats were divided into four equal groups; control group, alcoholicpancreatitis group, alcoholic pancreatitis with nicotine group and alcoholic pancreatitis with caffeine group. At the end of theexperimental period, blood samples were collected for serological study (serum amylase, lipase and blood sugar) and pancreatawere processed for light microscopic examination.Results: Histological examination of the pancreas in alcoholic pancreatitis group showed marked pancreatic distortion withmarked cytoplasmic vaculations and small deeply stained nuclei of acinar cells. In between the acini there were inflammatorycell infiltration and congested blood vessels. Immunohistochemically, NF-κB and Caspase-3 were increased, while insulin wasdecreased. These histological/immunohitochemical changes were increased in alcoholic pancreatitis with nicotine group anddecreased in alcoholic pancreatitis with caffeine group. Blood glucose, serum amylase and lipase levels were also increasedin alcohol pancreatitis group compared to controls. The increase in these enzymes was elevated by alcohol pancreatitis withnicotine group and decreased by alcohol pancreatitis with caffeine group.Conclusion: Nicotine exaggerates the adverse effects of alcoholic pancreatitis while caffeine improves these changes.