Pancreatitis-associated protein in bile acid-induced pancreatitis of the rat.

Experimental pancreatitis was induced in rats by intraductal injection of 0-4% Na-taurocholate. After 0-21 days the glands were removed and amylase, trypsin and chymotrypsin were measured in pancreatic homogenates. The enzyme activities decreased within 48 h to 5-20% of the control values. When 0-1% Na-taurocholate was used, the values tended to increase after 10-21 days. In pancreatic tissue, 12 h after induction of pancreatitis a 'pancreatitis-associated protein' (PAP) was found, which persisted for 4-7 days. A correlation could be found between the severity of pancreatitis and the amount of PAP in pancreatic homogenates.