Diet and pancreas

ABSTRACT

The effect of low protein diet on pancreatic function was investigated in two experimental groups of weaning male Sprague-Dawley rats, 30 each. They were followed for 3 months and were fed ad libitum diets containing 20% and 50% casein for the control and low-protein groups, respectively. Ten rats from each group were sacrificed every month and pancreatic weights were measured. Histological and histochemical changes together with enzymatic pattern of pancreases were investigated. Low-protein fed group showed a reduction in absolute pancreatic weights all over the periods of the experiment. Acini of the pancreas of this group showed a diminution in size, loss of their tight packing inside lobules as well as poor staining of the nuclei and cytoplasm of acinar cells. Both acinar and islet cells of the same group showed a decrease in total protein, RNA contents and alkaline phosphatase activity, while acid phosphatase activity increased. Also, degranulation of islet cells cytoplasm was detected. These changes pointed to hypofunction of exocrine and endocrine portions of pancreas in malnourished rats