1.   Chronic consumption of ethanol increases rat pancreatic lysosomal fragility.

2.   These results suggest that increased pancreatic lysosomal fragility observed with ethanol may be mediated by cholesteryl ester accumulation rather than by ethanol or acetaldehyde.

3.   The increase in pancreatic lysosomal fragility could result from a direct effect of ethanol on lysosomal membranes.

4.   These compounds are known to disrupt biologic membranes in vitro and therefore have the potential to mediate the increased pancreatic lysosomal fragility observed in ethanol fed rats.