Exocrine pancreatic enzyme activities and mineral concentrations in SHR/N-corpulent (cp) male rats.

Exocrine pancreatic enzyme activities and mineral concentrations were measured in a newly developed congenic strain of corpulent rat (SHR/N-cp). Approximately 4- to 5-wk-old corpulent (cp/cp) and lean (+/?) male rats consumed a diet containing 54% carbohydrate as either cooked cornstarch or 27% cooked cornstarch and 27% fructose for 9.5 mo. After consuming the diet for 3 mo, corpulent rats were hyperinsulinemic, hyperlipidemic and exhibited glycosuria. After consuming the diet for 9.5 mo corpulent rats were twofold heavier and pancreatic weight was 77% that of their lean littermates. Corpulent rats that consumed starch exhibited lower total pancreatic protein with no significant change in total DNA and RNA. In the corpulent rat, both lipase- and chymotrypsinogen-specific activities and both the specific activities and the content of amylase or trypsinogen were lower than those of lean littermates. Fructose consumption resulted in lower pancreatic copper and iron concentrations, and zinc concentration was elevated in corpulent rats. This study suggests that the SHR/N-corpulent rat may be a useful model for studying exocrine pancreatic function in insulin-independent diabetes.