Synthesis of Amylase by Cultured Rat Pancreatic Acinar Cells: Effects of Antecedent Diet

Abstract

Amylase synthesis in cultured pancreatic acinar cells was determined using an affinity adsorbent, alpha-glucohydrolase inhibitor--Sepharose 4B. This adsorbent exhibited a consistent binding capacity and was specific for amylase. To assess the effects of antecedent diet on amylase synthesis during culture, acinar cells from rats fed high fat (HF) or high carbohydrate (HC) diets for 7 d were cultured for 1-48 h in serum-free medium. Amylase activity remained significantly higher in cells from rats fed the HC diet than in cells from rats fed the HF diet through 24 h in culture, despite an overall decrease with time in culture. The relative synthesis of amylase [([3H]phenylalanine amylase/[3H]phenylalanine total protein) x 100] was also significantly higher in cells from HC-fed rats than in cells from HF-fed rats at isolation and remained higher during culture. The results demonstrate that these cultured acinar cells synthesize amylase in vitro and that the effect of diet on amylase activity and relative synthesis persists during culture.