COLONIC PROTEOLYSIS FOLLOWING PANCREATIC DUCT LIGATION IN THE RAT

Luminal proteolytic activity (PA) of different colonic segments was as certained in animals subjected to pancreatic duct ligation (PDL) and i n control rats. The PDL rats revealed a significant PA reduction in th e cecum, proximal colon (P < 0.01), and distal colon (P < 0.05). Prote olytic activity, trypsin, and chymotrypsin activity in control rats di minished progressively from the cecum to the distal colon. Conversely in PDL rats, we found maximal PA in distal colon. The conclusion is dr awn that a significant proportion of colonic proteolytic activity can be attributed to pancreatic proteases with a maximal contribution at c ecum level.