Blood, Urine, and Tissue Amylase in Depancreatized Rats

Abstract

Adult rats of both sexes, housed in individual metabolism cages, received a low residue diet. Blood and urine samples were collected under standardized conditions both before and at regular intervals for 30 days following complete pancreatomy. Operated animals and unoperated controls run in parallel were sacrificed after 30 days and tissue samples obtained. All samples were analyzed for amylase activity. The levels of amylase in the blood, urine, and tissues of the rat were not significantly altered by pancreatomy. It is suggested that some organ or organs, other than the pancreas, is the principal source of blood, urinary, and tissue amylase in normal rats.