Effect of adrenalectomy on serum and tissue amylase

¹ Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and Medical Clinic, Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts

The influence of the adrenals on the maintenance and control of serum and tissue amylase was studied in rats by determining the amylase content periodically for 21 days after adrenalectomy. Liver, muscle, fat, small intestine, pancreas, and serum were investigated. Adrenalectomy markedly lowered the liver amylase throughout the 21-day period. The serum and muscle amylase fell initially and then returned to normal within 8–16 days. Pancreatic and fat amylase were not altered significantly. After an initial fall, the intestinal amylase increased to abnormally high levels, reaching a maximum at 16–21 days. Pancreatic amylase remained constant during this period and was not influenced by adrenalectomy. Surgical laparotomy alone did not alter the tissue or serum amylase significantly. It is concluded that liver amylase is partially dependent on the adrenal, and that intestinal amylase is independent of adrenal activity.

Key Words: influence of adrenal gland on rat serum and tissue amylase • serum amylase after adrenalectomy • tissue amylase after adrenalectomy • amylase content of rat tissues • amylase content of rat serum

Submitted on May 21, 1965