CHRONIC ETHANOL ADMINISTRATION CAUSES OXIDATIVE STRESS IN THE RAT PANCREAS

There is increasing evidence implicating oxidative stress in the patho genesis of both acute and chronic pancreatitis. Because ethanol is a m ajor cause of pancreatitis in Western society, the aim of this study w as to determine whether chronic ethanol administration results In oxid ative stress in the pancreas. Twelve pairs of rats were fed a diet con taining ethanol as 36% of calories or an isocaloric control diet for 4 weeks. Ethanol feeding resulted in a 46% increase in pancreatic malon dialdehyde (p = 0.006). In addition, total pancreatic glutathione was increased by 22% (p = 0.005). These biochemical changes occurred in th e absence of histologic evidence of inflammation or necrosis, implying that the observed oxidative stress is a primary phenomenon rather tha n part of an inflammatory response.