Alterations of exocrine pancreatic enzymes in virus-induced diabetic cattle as revealed by immunohistochemistry

The pancreatic tissue of normal and virus-induced diabetic cattle was investigated by the indirect immunofluores cence technique. Seven secretory proteins (chymotrypsinogen A, trypsinogen, carboxypeptidase A, RNase, DNase, α-amylase and lipase) were localized in normal bovine pancreatic acinar cells but in diabetic animals amylase, lipase and carboxy peptidase were either not detectable or markedly diminished. Decrease in amylase content has been reported previously in other diabetic animals. The diminution of the three pancreatic enzymes may be related to the destruction of pancreatic endo crine tissue that occurs in these diabetic animals. Key words: Bovine exocrine pancreas, pancreatic enzymes, dia betes, immunofluorescence, cattle