EFFECTS OF ACUTE INTRAVENOUS ETHANOL ON BASAL EXOCRINE PANCREATIC-SECRETION IN RAT - CHOLINERGIC INVOLVEMENT

The effect of intravenous infusion of ethanol on the basal exocrine pa ncreatic secretion of anesthetized rats was studied. The cholinergic i nvolvement on the actions of ethanol was also studied using previously atropinized animals. During the stimulation period, pancreatic flow r ate was significantly increased by intravenous ethanol in both unatrop inized (199 % compared with basal) and atropinized rats (195 % compare d with basal). Pancreatic protein output was also increased during eth anol administration in both groups of animals (171 % and 165 % compare d with basal in, respectively, unatropinized and atropinized rats). Af ter the administration of ethanol, in the poststimulation period, panc reatic flow rate was further increased only in the atropinized group o f rats (290 % compared with basal), whose values were significantly hi gher than those of ethanol-treated unatropinized animals (195 % compar ed with basal). A similar profile of response was observed in pancreat ic protein output. Since intravenous ethanol did not stimulate either secretin or VIP release to portal plasma, the present results point to a direct effect of this substance on the exocrine pancreas. Furthermo re, atropine revealed the existence of an inhibitory cholinergic effec t of ethanol on the exocrine pancreas. In summary, results show that t he effect of intravenous ethanol on the basal exocrine pancreatic secr etion is dual and antagonistic.