ACUTE NECROTIZING PANCREATITIS INDUCED BY A CDE DIET IN THE RAT - A MORPHOLOGIC AND FUNCTIONAL-STUDY

We studied the effect on the rat pancreas of a choline-deficient diet supplemented with ethionine administered over different time periods. The study was carried out in several groups of male Wistar rats weighi ng 300 gm and fed for 60, 104, 195, 250, and 336 hours with a choline- deficient diet supplemented with ethionine (CDE). Analysis of pure exo crine pancreatic secretion in animals fed the CDE for 60 hours reveale d a decrease in total protein, amylase, and trypsin as compared with a nimals fed a standard diet. After cholecystokinin stimulation, a gradu al decrease in secretion was observed as the duration of the CDE was i ncreased, such that after 336 hours no response to cholecystokinin was found, indicating the lack of pancreatic functionality. Analysis of p ancreas preparations by light microscopy showed the existence of infil tration, edema, and hemorrhagic foci after 60 hours of CDE administrat ion, As the duration of the treatment increased, pancreatic morphology deteriorated, with the appearance of vacuolization and foci of necros is at 195 hours. This deterioration became more pronounced after 250 t o 336 hours, progressing to a considerable degree of hemorrhage and ne crosis of the acinar tissue. These results clearly confirm the existen ce of acute necrotizing and hemorrhagic pancreatitis in rats fed a CDE for 250 to 336 hours.