Effects of Nutritional State and of Administration of Glucose, Glibenclamide or Diazoxide on the Storage of Amylase in Mouse Pancreas

Abstract

Starvation induced a considerable fall in pancreatic amylase, which was readily restored by refeeding. The enzyme changes were parallel to variations in serum glucose and insulin. After starvation the amylase content could be increased by injection of glucose or the insulin secretagogue glibenclamide. The glucose-induced rise in amylase content was abolished by the concomitant injection of diazoxide, an inhibitor of glucose-induced insulin release. These findings suggest that insulin has a role in maintaining a high level of amylase in the exocrine pancreas. The parotid gland displayed a transient increase in amylase content during starvation, followed by a decrease. No direct relation to variations in serum glucose and insulin was observed.