Decreased lipase activity in pure pancreatic juice and duodenal content from mutant mice with some alterations resembling cystic fibrosis.

PIVETTA OH; VACCARO MI; MAILLIE AJ

LIFE SCIENCES

Pergamon Press

Lugar: England; Año: 1981 vol. 28 p. 2207 - 2213

0024-3205

Several reports have pointed out the autosomal recessive mutation cri (cribriform degeneration) of the mouse as a possible animal model for cystic fibrosis (CF). The present work constitutes the first study of the exocrine pancreatic function in this mutation. Duodenal content and pure pancreatic juice (PPJ) samples were obtained from mutant and control mice and the lipase activity was measured. Trypsin activity in feces was also determined. The lipase activity was significantly decreased in duodenal content as well as in PPJ samples (p<0.05 in both cases) in the cri/cri mutants, compared to their phenotypically normal siblings. The same enzymatic activity was also decreased in the normal (+/?) DBA/2J-cri mice, compared to the BALB/c mice strain. The presence of trypsin activity in stools, allowed us to rule out total exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) in cri/cri mice. The results are consistent with a partial EPI in this mutation and lend support to the concept of an animal model for CF.