Effect of potato inhibitor of proteolytic enzymes on activity and morphology of the rat pancreas.

The effect of the inhibitor of proteolytic enzymes present in potatoes on morphology and activity of the rat pancreas was investigated administering the inhibitor with drinking water in doses of 50 and 100 mg to two groups of rats for 20 days. On the 21st day the exocrine activity of the pancreas was evaluated by the method of duodenal perfusion after previous hormonal stimulation of pancreatic secretion (secretin and cholecystokinin-pancreozymin 1 U CHR/100 g body weight), while morphology of the organ was assessed by histological methods. It was found that the inhibitor exerts a trophic effect on the rat pancreas, causing hypertrophy of acinar cells and raising the exocrine activity of the gland. The higher dose of the inhibitor had a more pronounced trophic effect.