ACTION OF INTRADUODENAL ETHANOL ON EXOCRINE PANCREATIC-SECRETION IN CHRONIC-ALCOHOLIC RATS FED WITH DIFFERENT DIETS

The effects of diet composition (equilibrated and fat- and protein-ric h) in combination with chronic ethanol ingestion on pancreatic exocrin e secretion were studied in rats after a 7-month treatment period, als o analyzing under these experimental conditions the acute effects of i ntraduodenal administration of 20% ethanol. Chronic consumption of eth anol affected pancreatic flow but its acute administration stimulated the secretion of fluid, especially in control rats. Total protein secr etion is depressed in all rats receiving ethanol as fluid, but this wa s increased when rats drank water. Amylase activity depends on carbohy drate levels, decreased with fat and protein-rich diet but not with et hanol ingestion. Diet composition by itself did not affect specific tr ypsin activity but this increased significantly when a fat- and protei n-rich diet was administered together with ethanol. Trypsin activity r emained unchanged when ethanol was perfused into the duodenum in anima ls receiving ethanol chronically.