Functional and morphological alterations of the exocrine pancreas in the rat following pretreatment with rifampicin.

Following oral pretreatment with rifampicin over 3 and 9 days, the exocrine pancreatic function was studied in urethane-anaesthetized rats under exocrine stimulation. The volume and electrolyte content, and especially the protein and amylase outputs of the pancreatic secretion showed a virtually dose- and time-dependent decrease. Histologically, there was a corresponding decline of the zymogen granules in the acinar cells. The suggested explanation for the observed disorders of the pancreatic exocrine function is primarily an inhibition of protein synthesis due to rifampicin.