The lysosomal hydrolases in acute experimental pancreatitis in dogs treated with glucagon.

In dogs with acute experimental pancreatitis (AEP) induced according to Elliotts method the total, free and latent activity of lysosomal hydrolases (acid phosphatase, beta-glucuronidase and cathepsins) in whole homogenates and some subfractions of pancreas were studied. The animals were divided into three groups of 6 dogs each: I. control healthy dogs. II. AEP-treated with glucagon (0.33 mg of glucagon in drop infusion 3 times every six hours). III. AEP without any drug treatment. In dogs treated with glucagon the significant decrease of relative free activity of all tested hydrolases (66-80%) in comparison with the group without any treatment (III/80-90%) was found. Moreover significant decrease of total catheptic activity (about 1/3) in the former group was demonstrated. Incubation of lysosomal enriched fraction taken from group II/in medium buffered to pH 5.0 caused decreasing release of catheptic activity (60% of total) in comparison with the group III (75%). The histochemical reaction for acid phosphatase according to Gomoris method in pancreatic acinar cells of dogs treated with glucagon was less intensive than reaction in untreated animals. These results indicate on the less impairment of pancreatic lysosomes in AEP treated with glucagon in comparison with that in untreated animals.