Decrease in arachidonoyl-containing phosphatidylinositols in pancreas of rats fed an ethanol-containing diet.

The composition of the glycerophosphatides in pancreas and liver was studied in rats fed an ethanol-containing diet and in pair-fed controls. The fraction of arachidonoyl-containing phosphatidylinositols in pancreas was much lower in the former rats, also when the rats were starved for a final 24 hr period. This fraction was also lower in fed than in starved control rats. The effect was not observed after acute administration of ethanol. It is suggested that the decrease in arachidonoyl-containing phosphatidylinositols was due to chronic pancreatic hyperfunction in the ethanol-fed rats.