Effect of raw soy flour, feeding regime, and azaserine on rat pancreas

The combined effects of feeding rats increasing amounts of raw soy four, feeding regime (ad libitum vs one meal per day), and injection of azaserine on the incidence of pancreatic nodules were investigated over a period of 12 months. Food consumption and body weights of meal-fed rats were lower than those of their ad libitum counterparts. The difference in body weight between the ad libitum and meal-fed rats became greater as the level of raw soy flour in the diet increased. Azaserine injections did not affect food consumption or body weight. The weights of the pancreas (gm/100 gm BW) increased parallel to the level of raw soy flour in the diet. The survival rate of rats on diets containing 19% and 42% raw soy flour was greater on the meal-fed regime than in the ad libitum group, but the converse was true when the diet contained 80% raw soy flour. The number and severity of pancreatic nodules observed in azaserine-injected animals surviving at the end of 12 months increased in relation to the level of raw soy flour in the diet and was enhanced at each level by meal feeding.