Alterations of exocrine pancreatic enzymes in virus-induced diabetic cattle as revealed by immunohistochemistry.

The pancreatic tissue of normal and virus-induced diabetic cattle was investigated by the indirect immunofluorescence technique. Seven secretory proteins (chymotrypsinogen A, trypsinogen, carboxypeptidase A, RNase, DNase, alpha-amylase and lipase) were localized in normal bovine pancreatic acinar cells but in diabetic animals amylase, lipase and carboxypeptidase were either not detectable or markedly diminished. Decrease in amylase content has been reported previously in other diabetic animals. The diminution of the three pancreatic enzymes may be related to the destruction of pancreatic endocrine tissue that occurs in these diabetic animals.