Effect of experimental pancreatic growth on the content of xenobiotic-metabolising enzymes in the pancreas.

The concentration in pancreatic tissue and the total pancreatic content of three xenobiotic metabolising enzymes has been determined in two models of experimental pancreatic growth namely, cholecystokinin-octapeptide injections and soy flour feeding. No significant change in pancreatic concentrations of benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylase or glucuronyl transferase was detected. In both models of pancreatic growth, however, the concentration of glutathione-S-transferase was significantly reduced. It is possible that the reduction in this enzyme may be of some importance in determining the susceptibility of the pancreas to carcinogenesis observed with long term soy flour feeding.