Protective effect of long term high fiber diet consumption on rat exocrinepancreatic function after chronic ethanol intake

The effects of ethanol administration on exocrine pancreas have been widely studied, but little is known about the effect of dietary fiber in combinat ion with chronic ethanol on exocrine pancreatic function. The aim of this w ork was to examine the chronic effects of a high fiber diet, ethanol ingest ion, and a combination of both on the function of the rat exocrine pancreas . Four groups of rats were fed for six months the following diets: 1.- NW: standard laboratory diet; 2.- FW: high fiber diet (15% cellulose); 3.- NE: standard laboratory diet and 20% ethanol in the drinking water: and 4.- FE: high fiber diet and 20% ethanol. Cholecystokinin (CCK) and acetylcholine ( Ach) effects on amylase release and intracellular calcium mobilization in p ancreatic acini were studied. In rats fed a 20% ethanol (NE). both the basa l amylase release and the basal [Ca2+](i) were significantly increased: non etheless, CCK and Ach-induced amylase release were significantly reduced co mpared with control rats. Ach- but not CCK-stimulated [Ca2+](i) increase in NE rats was significantly decreased compared with NW. In rats fed a combin ation of ethanol and a high fiber diet (FE) all the parameters under study were not significantly affected compared to control rats (NW). In conclusio n, high fiber consumption does not alter the function of the exocrine pancr eas. However, it ameliorates the deleterious effect of chronic ethanol cons umption on pancreatic amylase secretion and. at least partially, reverses t he ethanol-induced alterations on [Ca2+](i) in the rat exocrine pancreas. ( C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.