This is a review of current progress in studies of alcohol-induced pan
creatic injury using the rat intragastric ethanol infusion model. This
model has been shown to reproduce the histopathologic characteristics
of human ethanol-related pancreatic disease in a rodent model. A high
fat liquid diet infused with ethanol potentiated the histologic and c
ellular effects of ethanol on the exocrine pancreas when compared to a
low fat diet-ethanol infusion. Hypogranulation and apoptosis of pancr
eatic acinar cells are proposed as precursor lesions induced by ethano
l leading to the subsequent development of acinar atrophy. A reduction
in acinar cell sensitivity and responsiveness to cholecystokinin (CCK
) is documented and proposed as a mechanism for the development of reg
ressive changes through a reduction in the trophic effect of CCK.