Stability of Pancreatic Enzyme Activities in Duodenal Juice after Pancreatic Stimulation by a Test Meal or Exogenous Hormones

Abstract

The activities of pancreatic lipase, pancreatic amylase, and trypsin were followed after storage at −20°C in duodenal juices collected after pancreatic stimulation by either a test meal or exogenous hormones. The activities of all three enzymes were stable for up to one year in juices collected after a test meal. However, in nine out of 10 hormonally stimulated juices, lipase activities fell to less than 50% of the initial activity within three weeks of storage, and in a third, trypsin activities fell to less than 60% over a similar period. Amylase activities remained relatively unchanged. The in-vitro addition of the test meal, its separate components, or glycerol (50%, v/v) stabilised lipase and trypsin activities in hormonally stimulated juices stored at −20°C for at least one month.