ACUTE EXPOSURE OF SMALL-INTESTINE TO ETHANOL INDUCES MUCOSAL LEAKAGE AND PROSTAGLANDIN-E2 SYNTHESIS

The small intestines of healthy volunteers were challenged with ethanol during regional perfusion of a defined jejunal segment. Infusion of 30 mL of 5000 mmol/L ethanol to the perfused jejunal segment gave a maximum ethanol concentration of 973 ± 98 (SEM) mmol/L in the jejunum lumen. This ethanol challenge induced within 20-30 minutes a 10-fold increase in albumin (P < 0.001) and a twofold increase in the glycosaminoglycan hyaluronic acid (P < 0.05) in the perfusion fluid. Later during the challenge and simultaneously with a decreased jejunal loss of albumin, the jejunal recovery of prostaglandin E2 increased fourfold (P < 0.01). The jejunal fluid concentrations of histamine and eosinophil cationic protein remained stable during the ethanol challenge. No changes in the jejunal appearance of albumin or other measured substances were seen when the maximum jejunal fluid concentrations of ethanol were <400 mmol/L achieved during challenge with smaller amounts of ethanol. The increased jejunal fluid appearance of hyaluronic acid after ethanol challenge indicates increased leakage from the interstitial/lymph fluid of the gut wall due to altered mucosal permeability. The relatively larger jejunal losses of albumin suggest that ethanol induces increased microvascular permeability of the jejunum as well. © 1992.