Long term pancreatic response to feeding heat damaged casein in rats

Rats were fed a heat damaged casein (autoclaved 24 hours, 121 degrees, 2 atm) diet to determine the effect of poorly digested protein on pancreatic enzyme levels and response to a meal. After 10 days of feeding, the pancreas showed no signs of atrophy, however, chymotrypsin and amylase activities were lower in proportion to body weight. An estimation of secretion during the meal was similar or slightly lower in rats fed heated casein (HC) as compared to the casein diet (C), but a greater levels of enzyme activity was found in the intestinal contents of rats fed HC relative to control rats. These results suggest that the turnover of enzymes in the gut is reduced when a less digestible protein is fed, and that the endogenous pancreatic secretions and the dietary protein are not digested and absorbed as well.