RELEASE OF NONESTERIFIED FATTY-ACIDS DURING CERULEIN-INDUCED PANCREATITIS IN RATS

During acute pancreatitis, data obtained in vitro suggest that pancrea tic lipase, acting on circulating or tissular triglycerides, might gen erate nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) that could promote pancreatic a nd fat tissue necrosis. This work determined whether NEFA were actuall y produced in vivo in pancreatic tissue and in blood during cerulein-i nduced pancreatitis in rats. Intraperitoneal injections of cerulein in duced pancreatitis. To promote the possible NEFA release by pancreatic lipase, a venous infusion of human very low density lipoprotein (VLDL ) was used to cause hypertriglyceridemia. NEFA were measured in portal and aortic blood and in tissue extracts prepared from pancreas homoge nates. NEFA did not increase either in peripheral or in portal blood. In pancreatic tissue, NEFA levels did not differ from controls. The ma jor hypertriglyceridemia produced by human VLDL intravenous infusion n either altered the course of the disease nor promoted plasma NEFA rele ase. The role commonly attributed to NEFA in acute pancreatitis seems questionable.