Interactive effects of dietary protein and ethanol on rat pancreas. Protein synthesis and enzyme secretion

Nutritional factors, especially the protein and fat content of the diet, may alter the likelihood of pancreatic injury after a number of insults, including chronic ethanol intake. This issue was studied experimentally by match-feeding rats liquid diets of varying protein content with and without ethanol. Protein synthesis and enzyme secretion were investigated, because these parameters are believed to increase the capacity for pancreatic autodigestion. Protein synthesis was assessed by determining the incorporation of tritiated phenylalanine into trichloroacetic acid precipitated protein 10 minutes after IP injection and then corrected for the size of the precursor pool. Enzyme secretion was studied using pancreatic acini, which were prepared using clostripain-poor collagenase. Chronic ethanol feeding stimulated protein synthesis and lipase secretion and content in rats receiving adequate amounts of protein. These stimulatory effects of ethanol were markedly attenuated in rats administered protein poor diets. Protein deficiency per se significantly decreased the weight, protein, and enzyme content of the rat pancreas as well as increased the percentage release of lipase from acini. Although extrapolation from animal studies may be tenuous, the present findings may explain the link between nutrition and the occurrence of alcoholic pancreatitis.