Effect of Vitamin E on Ethanol Induced Exocrine Pancreatic Injury in Adult Male Albino Rat: Light, Electron Microscopic and Biochemical Study

Background: Excessive alcohol intake is a leading factor of chronic pancreatitis.
Chronic administration of ethanol causes marked pancreatic edema, inflammatory
cellular infiltration, acinar necrosis, and fibrosis. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin
that helps in the formation of red blood cells and the prevention of oxidation in the
body. The current study aimed to compare the protective effect of vitamin E and
withdrawal from ethanol in the ethanol-induced injury of the exocrine pancreas.
Methods: Fifty adult male albino rats were divided into five equal groups: (control,
sham control, ethanol-treated group, ethanol, and vitamin E-treated group, and
withdrawal group). Light microscopic examination was done using hematoxylin and
eosin and Masson’s trichrome stains. Electron microscopic examination was carried
out using transmission electron microscopy. Serum level of lipase and alpha-amylase
was measured in blood samples. Measurements of malondialdehyde (MDA) and
superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in pancreatic tissue homogenates were
performed.Results: Examination of specimens of ethanol-treated rats revealed
markedly disturbed pancreatic architecture, pancreatic acini, widening of spaces,
dilated interlobular ducts, pyknotic nuclei, destruction of mitochondria with loss of
cristae, and extensive fibrosis. These morphological changes were associated with a
significant increase in serum lipase, alpha-amylase, MDA and a decrease in SOD
activity. Ethanol and vitamin E co-administration markedly ameliorated these
histological alterations, but withdrawal from ethanol could not improve its harmful
effects. Conclusions: This study revealed that concomitant administration of vitamin
E with ethanol could significantly improve ethanol-induced exocrine pancreatic
damage, possibly due to its antioxidant property