Influence of biliary stasis on enterokinase activity in the rat.

After 48 h of bile duct ligation, enterokinase activity in rat mucosa was significantly lowered in comparison with controls or rats with bile fistula. Rats with bile fistula were similar to controls. Sucrase levels were similar in all groups. Without endogenous trypsinogen, duodenal perfusion with a trypsinogen-containing solution led to more conversion to trypsin by controls. When their own pancreatic secretion was the source of trypsinogen, trypsin was much higher in perfusate from bile-ligated rats. Solubilized enterokinase was also higher in this group. These results indicate that bile stasis leads to decreased mucosal enterokinase activity and increased pancreatic function. The latter may have caused accelerated loss of enterokinase into the lumen, leading to lower mucosal levels.