INTRAGASTRIC ALCOHOL CAUSES ENDOTHELIN RELEASE FROM FELINE PANCREAS

The mechanism by which alcohol causes pancreatic damage is still large ly unknown. One important contributory factor may be the endothelins, potent vasoconstricting endothelial-derived peptides. The aim of this study was to examine in vivo endothelin release from the pancreatic va scular endothelium after alcohol ingestion. In anesthetized cats immun oreactive endothelin was measured in serum after instillation of alcoh ol into the stomach (20 mi, 40%). After intragastric alcohol, a rise i n endothelin was seen in pancreatic venous effluent (to a mean of 24.5 +/- 7.7 pg/ml at 60 min). Control serum from the femoral artery exhib ited no rise in endothelin (2.11 +/- 1.2 pg/ml). Pancreatic blood flow was significantly decreased in a further group to 93% basal after int ravenous infusion of 0.1 nmol/kg ET-1 and to 61% after infusion of 1 n mol/kg ET-1. Portal serum levels of endothelin were 105 pg/ml and 15 p g/ml, respectively, immediately following bolus infusion and decreased to normal levels within 120 sec. We conclude that the serum endotheli n rise after intragastric ethanol may be a major factor behind the dro p in pancreatic blood flow.