Changes in pancreatic lysosomal enzymes activity as the potential factors leading to diabetic enteropathy.

The aim of this study was to establish and quantify changes in the activities of total, free and bound fractions of pancreatic lipase, galactoso-6-sulphatase, beta-D-galactosidase and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase in the course of alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus. Rabbits were divided into a control group and groups injected with alloxan on the 21st, 42nd, 90th and the 180th day, after which blood samples were taken and the rabbits sacrificed by decapitation. The pancreas was removed and the glucose level measured. Enzyme activities were assayed by spectrophotometric methods. The total activities of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase and beta-D-galactosidase were the lowest on day 42 of the test, and the total activity of lipase was the highest at this point of time, as compared to the other periods of the study. We conclude that in the course of alloxan-induce diabetes activities of pancreatic lipase and sulphatase were increasing following the levels of glucose, whilst activities of beta-D-galactosidase and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase were declining, being inversely correlated to the level of glucose and activities of the first two mentioned enzymes. Above alterations in activity of lysosomal pancreatic enzymes of alloxan induced diabetic rabbits may be responsible for some aspects of previously reported diabetic enteropathy and chronic complications, or may provide a mechanism for the pancreatic beta-cells to moderate their insulin content.