Role of Glucocorticosteroids in the Regulation of Pancreatic Amylase Synthesis

Abstract

Both adrenalectomy and chemically induced diabetes mellitus cause a marked decrease of pancreatic amylase activity in rats, but it is unknown whether these effects are the result of a direct or indirect mechanism. The synthesis of various pancreatic enzymes has been studied in isolated pancreatic acini from sham-operated, castrated, and adrenalectomized animals as well as in animals that have been both adrenalectomized and castrated. Protein synthesis was measured by pulse labeling of acini with [35S]methionine followed by either trichloroacetic acid precipitation of total protein and counting or by SDS-PAGE and autoradiography, and additionally by in vitro translation of extracted pancreatic RNA using rabbit reticulocytes. Adrenalectomy resulted in a 70% reduction of amylase activity per milligram of acinar protein as a result of a decrease in amylase synthesis. This reduction in amylase synthesis is a consequence of a decrease in the amount of mRNA coding for amylase. After adrenalectomy, plasma concentrations of the following were reduced compared to controls: corticosterone to 0.45%, insulin to 11%, and glucose to approximately 66%. Addition of glucose to the drinking water caused an increase in insulin and plasma glucose, but this was not followed by an increase in amylase activity. We postulate that corticosterone directly regulates amylase synthesis in the rat pancreas.