Effects of ethanol feeding on collagen synthesizing and degrading enzymes in rat pancreas.

Collagen metabolism in the pancreas was investigated in male Wistar strain rats after 7 weeks of ethanol feeding. Compared with control rats, the ethanol-fed rats had a normal hydroxyproline content in the pancreas. However, prolyl hydroxylase activity and collagenolytic cathepsin activity were increased, though collagenase activity did not change. Both prolyl hydroxylase activity and collagenolytic cathepsin activity were inversely correlated with amylase activities. These findings were also confirmed in ethanol-pyrazole treated rats. These results suggest that the ethanol-induced pancreatic injury, even at an early stage, accelerates the collagen metabolism in the pancreas.