[Activity of parotid isoamylases in the ethionine-treated rat (author's transl)]

In order to investigate the effects of ethionine (an antagonist of the essential amino acid, methionine) on the enzyme synthesis in the rat-parotid gland, rats were fed methionine-deficient diet and treated with DL-ethionine for 4 and 10 days. Compared with the controls, not only the synthesis but also the secretion of parotid isoamylases was impaired by ethionine. Acinar isoamylase activities dropped initially but increased distinctly after 10 days of ethionine treatment, possibly due to intra- as well as extracellular impairment of acinar protein secretion. After another 10 days during which no ethionine was given, the described changes were no longer observed.