Effect of nickel on enzymatic activities in the mouse pancreas.

The effect of nickel (Ni) on the enzymatic activities in the pancreas of mice was studied. Administration of Ni at the dose of 5 mg Ni/kg increased the trypsin activity and decreased carboxypeptidase A activity, but did not affect the activities of chymotrypsin, carboxypeptidase B, amylase, and lipase. Increases in Ca concentrations in the pancreas after Ni administration were observed. In the pancreatic slice experiments, Ni treatment showed a slight decrease in trypsin activity and remarkable decreases in chymotrypsin and carboxypeptidase A activities, and Ca treatment induced increases in the activities of trypsin and carboxypeptidase A. These results suggest that the increase in trypsin activity in the pancreas after Ni administration results from the activation of trypsinogen by the Ca ion and that the decrease in carboxypeptidase A activity is based on the inhibitory effect of Ni on carboxypeptidase A activity.