Effects of daily fat or ethanol ingestion on the cholecystokinin- pancreas and the gastrin- enterochromaffin-like cell axes in rats.
OBJECTIVE
Ingestion of fat and ethanol is thought to contribute to the development of pancreatitis through the release of gut hormones, such as cholecystokinin (CCK) and gastrin. We have examined the effects of fat or ethanol on the relationships between CCK and pancreas on one hand and between gastrin and the enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells in the stomach on the other.


METHODS
In one study, rats received 2 ml of medium-chain triglycerides or water twice a day by the oral route for 12 days. In another study, rats received 2.5, 5, 10 or 20% ethanol in drinking water for 12 days. All rats were killed on day 13.


RESULTS
There were no changes in either the plasma CCK concentration or the pancreatic weight and DNA content in the fat-fed rats. The serum gastrin concentration and the histidine decarboxylase (HDC) activity, HDC mRNA level and histamine content of the ECL cells were lower in fat-fed rats than in control rats. Ethanol did not affect either the plasma CCK concentration or the pancreatic weight and DNA content. The serum gastrin concentration was reduced in the rats that received 5, 10 or 20% ethanol. Also the HDC activity and histamine content of the ECL cells were reduced in the rats that received 10 and 20% ethanol.


CONCLUSIONS
Daily ingestion of fat or ethanol for 12 days was without effects on the plasma CCK concentration and the pancreas, but reduced the serum gastrin concentration and the activity of the ECL cells in the rat.
Yamada
H
H
Department of Pharmacology, University of Lund, Sweden.
Kimura
K
K
Chen
D
D
D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002766:Cholecystokinin / Q000097:blood*; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019861:Enterochromaffin-like Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D005755:Gastrins / Q000097:blood*; D006640:Histidine Decarboxylase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D010179:Pancreas / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013270:Stomach / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects
D004041:Dietary Fats; D005755:Gastrins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000431:Ethanol; D004247:DNA; D002766:Cholecystokinin; D006640:Histidine Decarboxylase