Use of Ac-L-Tyr-PAB for estimating the activity of chymotrypsin in rats

Pancreatic secretion in rats was assessed by measuring the amounts of p-aminobenzoic acid (PABH) excreted in urine after oral administration of Ac-L-Tyr-PAB, and by determination of enzyme activity in pancreas and faeces. 3 groups of 7 rats were kept on diets with casein as the main source of nitrogen without (control K0) or with two levels of trypsin inhibitor (K1 and K2). Two other groups were fed diets with 40 and 80% of casein substituted by raw soya bean protein and having trypsin inhibitor contents equivalent to those in diets K1 and K2. Urinary excretion of PABH ranged from 99 to 105% of intake and were not different between control and experimental rats. The weight of pancreas and pancreatic activities of trypsin and chymotrypsin in all experimental rats were higher than in controls. The activity of chymotrypsin in the faeces of rats of groups K1 and K2 was greater than in K0 while in groups S1 and S2 it was about five times that in groups K1 and K2. Generally, it was greater on diets with more trypsin inhibitor. The activity of trypsin in the faeces of rats K0, K1 and S1 was several times less than in K2 and S2. It has been concluded that measurement of trypsin and chymotrypsin in faeces allows to estimate differences in the secretion of pancreatic enzymes.