Chronic Effects of Camostate on Growth and Endocrine Function of the Pancreas in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Chronic feeding of normal rats with camostate, a synthetic trypsin inhibitor, stimulates the growth of the pancreas chiefly by increasing cholecystokinin release. We examined the effects of camostate on the growth and the endocrine function of the pancreas in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The pancreatic weight of the diabetic rats given camostate (200 mg/kg/day) by oral gavage for 14 days was significantly elevated by 120% over that of diabetic rats not given camostate, and was comparable to that in the nondiabetic rats given camostate. The total pancreatic contents of DNA, RNA, and protein in diabetic rats given camostate were also significantly higher than those in diabetic rats not given camostate, and did not differ from those observed in nondiabetic rats given camostate. The pancreatic growth seen in diabetic rats treated with camostate was associated with moderate hyperplasia and pronounced hypertrophy. By contrast, treatment with camostate did not improve hyperglycemia, hypoinsulinemia, or low pancreatic content of insulin seen in diabetic rats. These findings demonstrate a marked growth of the pancreas in diabetic rats stimulated by camostate, and suggest that camostate-induced pancreatic growth is not affected by the reduced level of the endogenous insulin. The present study also indicates that camostate has no beneficial effects on the function of residual B cells, failing to improve diabetes.