DAMAGE TO DUCT EPITHELIUM IS NECESSARY TO DEVELOP PROGRESSING LESIONSOF CHRONIC-PANCREATITIS IN THE CAT

Background: The pathogenesis of chronic pancreatitis remains unclear. This investigation aimed to evaluate the relative importance of acinar or ductal lesions or of ductal subobstruction in the development of c hronic pancreatitis in cats. Materials and Methods: Ethanol was inject ed either interstitially in the parenchyma or in the maim pancreatic d uct, whereas in Other animals the main duct was partially obstructed t o 70% of its original diameter or totally obstructed.Results: Total ob struction led to well known chronic obstructive pancreatitis and atrop hy. Chronic progressive fibrosing pancreatitis developed only when the ductal epithelium teas injured by intraductal injection of ethanol. I t differed from the obstructive lesions, as demonstrated by biopsies t aken over a one year period. Temporary, acute, or chronic-like lesions developed after intraparenchymal injection or in sub obstruction. Min or lesions were obtained in cats fed alcohol or submitted to ethanol f eeding combined with partial duct obstruction. None of the laboratory tests used were very useful to detect mild chronic damage at an early stage but fecal fat and the plasma pancreolauryl test seemed the most sensitive. Conclusion: Damage of the ductal epithelium represents the most important pathogenetic factor to induce chronic pancreatitis. Fur ther refinements, and investigations with more pathophysiologic agents are necessary to ultimately lead to a reproducible model resembling t he human disease.