Ethanol-mediated neutrophil extravasation in feline pancreas

Ethanol is a common cause of both acute and chronic pancreatitis. Studies i n other organs suggest that polymorphonuclear neutrophils activated by etha nol may cause tissue injury in a variety of conditions. The aim of this stu dy was to investigate the effects of ethanol on neutrophil extravasation in the feline pancreas. Pancreata were isolated and perfused at different flo w rates with varying concentrations of ethanol in either a physiological or neutrophil depleted perfusate. Neutrophil extravasation was assessed by me asuring pancreatic tissue myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. Ethanol at 2.5 pa rts per thousand (54.25 mmol/liter) was the lowest concentration that still caused significant neutrophil extravasation (3.1 +/- 0.8 vs 1.9 +/- 0.2 un its, P < 0.05) and was accompanied by an increase in vascular resistance of 15%. Reduction of pancreatic perfusion by 15% did not significantly increa se neutrophil extravasation. (1.1 +/- 0.3 vs 1.6 +/- 0.2 units. NS) Perfusi on of the pancreas with neutrophil-depleted blood containing either ethanol or saline, followed by perfusion with an ethanol-free perfusate, showed an increase in neutrophil extravasation in the ethanol group compared to the control group (3.2 +/- 0.9 vs 1.9 +/- 0.2 units. P < 0.05), In conclusion, ethanol causes neutrophil extravasation in the feline pancreas independent of blood now changes and occurs despite the absence of direct neutrophil ex posure to ethanol.