Experimental acute pancreatitis in rats after chronic and chronic plus acute ethanol administration in combination with a pancreatic juice edema

Abstract

The influence of long-term (26 weeks) and long-term plus acute ethanol administration on the development of acute pancreatitis was studied in rats. While both these treatments alone did not induce pancreatitis in any rat, extrapancreatic fat necrosis and histologic lesions of the pancreas were found in the majority of animal 24 hours after additional establishing of a pancreatic juice edema by an obstruction/hypersecretion mechanism. Severity and frequency of findings were significantly increased by additional short-term ischemia (25 min) of the pancreas. In control rats without ethanol ingestion, the edema receded without any lesions, and after additional ischemia significantly fewer rats exhibited signs of acute pancreatitis when compared to the ethanol-treated groups. An experimental model of acute alcoholic pancreatitis is presented with ethanol ingestion, temporary ductal obstruction and stimulation of secretion being essential constituents, which may be of clinical relevance, too.