Experimental study on alcoholic pancreatitis.

One hundred and five Wistar rats were divided into six groups according to the compositions of diet and fed on the respective diet for four to six months, and then received orally 15% ethyl alcohol instead of drinking water for two months. The following results were obtained. 1) The serum amylase levels were above 64 units in most of the rats, except for the group of high carbohydrate diet in which 57% of rats showed a normal value. 2) Pancreatic edema was observed in almost all cases of each dietary group, but fat necrosis, ascites or pancreatic necrosis was not noted at all at laparotomy. 3) Histologic changes of the pancreas were significantly different from those of controls in groups of high protein, high fat, high protein and high fat diets, but not in the high carbohydrate group.