Abstract
Summary
1. Concentration of elastase and lipase in the pancreas of rat and guinea pig responds similarly to various experimental manipulations. The changes are parallel both in direction and degree. Starvation causes an increased concentration, whereas pilocarpine, hypophysectomy, thiouracil treatment result in a marked depletion of these pancreatic enzymes. Cobalt administration to the guinea pig causes a depletion of pancreatic elastase and lipase, whereas in the rat such an effect is not obtained. This is attributed to the relative resistance of the rat to the hypothyroid effect of cobalt. 2. Based on above observations, it is inferred that in the rat and guinea pig, elastase is a digestive enzyme elaborated by the acinar tissue of the pancreas.
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