Figure 3.

The metabolic effects of alcohol on pancreatic cells may lead to digestion of the cell. (1) Chronic alcohol consumption increases cholesteryl esters and fatty acid ethyl esters in organelle membranes, altering the fragility of enzyme storage structures within the cell (i.e., lysosomes [L] and zymogen granules [Z]). (2) Chronic alcohol consumption increases digestive enzyme synthesis. (3) Chronic alcohol consumption blocks the release of digestive enzymes from the cell. (4) Release of digestive enzymes from fragile L and Z granules into the cell’s interior breaks down cell components (i.e., autodigestion).