Differences in time course of hepatocyte and pancreocyte damage after incubation with trypsin, chymotrypsin and 2.4-dinitrophenol.

The survival of isolated pancreatic acinar cells and of hepatocytes from rats was compared to mimic cell injury and death during the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis in the presence of varying concentrations of trypsin, chymotrypsin and of the uncoupler 2.4-dinitrophenol (DNP). While hepatocytes were quickly damaged by trypsin they still excluded trypan blue though an excess amount of DNP was added. Pancreocytes revealed a reversed susceptibility to both noxae. The reduced sensitivity of pancreocytes to extracellular trypsin action could represent a special protectiveness against autodigestion and their increased susceptibility to an alteration of the cellular energy state stresses the importance of this factor to the survival of pancreatic tissue under normal and noxious conditions.