*2.8. Biochemical Assays*

Lipase, amylase and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity were determined in plasma by the LIPASE-LQ, AMYLASE-LQ and GOT (AST)-LQ, respectively, (Spinreact, Girona, Spain). The procedures were performed according to the indications of the kit.

Triglycerides and total lipids were determined in liver tissue by the TRIGLYCERIDES-LQ and TOTAL LIPIDS, respectively (Spinreact, Girona, Spain). The procedures were performed according to the indications of the kit in liver homogenate in PBS (100 mg/mL). Results were normalized by protein concentration.

### *2.9. Histological Analysis*

Pieces of pancreas were rapidly removed, fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde for 24 h and embedded in paraffin, 4 µM sections were prepared using an automatic microtome, and then stained with hematoxylin and eosin for microscopic analysis. Pancreatic sections were assessed at 20× magnification over 10 separate fields for severity of pancreatitis by scoring for edema and inflammatory infiltrate according to Van Laethem et al. [31].

#### *2.10. Statistical Analysis*

All the values were expressed as means ± SE. To analyze the significance of the quantitative variables, the statistical treatment one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Tukey's post-hoc test, was used. *p* < 0.05 was the limit to accept statistically significant differences. The results were managed with the statistical tool of the GraphPad Prism 8 software (GraphPad Software Inc., La Jolla, CA, USA).

#### **3. Results**
