PERMISSIVE ROLE OF l-THYROXINE IN INDUCTION OF PANCREATIC AMYLASE BY CORTISOL IN NEONATAL RATS

Abstract

The effect of l-thyroxine (T4) on amylase activity in the developing rat pancreas has been investigated. Administration of T4 (0·2 μg/g body wt) alone to intact rats on days 5–10 after birth did not induce pancreatic amylase but the enzyme was induced significantly by daily injection of cortisol (10 μg/g body wt) alone into intact rats over the same period. In thyroidectomized, adrenalectomized rats pancreatic amylase was not induced by the injection of cortisol alone but it was induced by the administration of cortisol plus T4. Increase in enzyme activity was much less in thyroidectomized animals than in intact animals. These results suggested that T4 does not have a direct effect in increasing pancreatic amylase activity but plays a permissive role in increasing enzyme activity.