1. The effects of a diet rich in protein and fat, compared with a control diet, with or without chronic ingestion of ethanol on the pancreatic response to cholecystokinin were studied in rats after a 7-month treatment period. The acute effects of intraduodenal administration of 20% (v/v) ethanol were also analysed under these experimental conditions.
2. Animals receiving a diet rich in protein and fat showed a greater percentage increase in pancreatic output in response to cholecystokinin.
3. Chronic ethanol consumption reduced the basal secretion of protein and amylase; and even though the response capacity to cholecystokinin (considered as the percentage secretion on cholecystokinin stimulation with respect to basal secretion) was maintained, this led to hormone-stimulated secretion being decreased in comparison with the animals receiving water. In contrast, a lack of inhibition of basal volume flow and flow after cholecystokinin stimulation was seen after long-term ingestion of ethanol.
4. Acute administration of ethanol generally depressed cholecystokinin-stimulated pancreatic secretion.
5. On stimulation with cholecystokinin, the diet rich in protein and fat combined with long-term ingestion of ethanol led to non-parallel changes in the release of pancreatic enzymes, since an increase in trypsin secretion and a decrease in amylase secretion occurred concomitantly.
