Postnatal ontogeny of gamma glutamyltranspeptidase activity of pancreas in essential fatty acid deficient rats treated with nitrosomethylurea

Abstract

The effect of essential fatty acid deficiency and nitrosomethylurea treatment on postnatal levels of pancreatic gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase was studied. A significant increase of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase activity and changes in fatty acid composition were observed in essential fatty acid deficient rats, from the 14th day of life on. Pancreatic gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase of nitrosomethylurea injected rats in essential fatty acid deficiency and controls was significantly diminished at the 30th day, with no significant differences in both nutritional conditions. The results indicated: 1. Concomitant changes in gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase activity and fatty acid composition of rat pancreas in essential fatty acid deficiency, 2. A significant reduction of pancreatic gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase activity following a single intraperitoneal injection of nitrosomethylurea at day one of life and 3. No interacting effects of essential fatty acid deficiency and nitrosomethylurea on gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase activity of rat pancreas.