Journal of Dental Research, Vol 68, 1366-1369, Copyright © 1989 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Role of parotid amylase in starch digestion in the gastro-intestinal tracts of diabetic rats
M. Kurahashi and K. Inomata
Department of Oral Physiology, School of Dentistry, Higashi-Nippon-Gakuen University, Hokkaido, Japan.
In order for the role of parotid amylase in starch digestion in the
gastro-intestinal tracts of diabetic rats to be clarified, this study
investigated the effect of parotid-duct ligation on both amylase secretion
from the parotid glands and pancreas into the gastro-intestinal tract and
on starch digestion in the gastro-intestinal contents during feedings. In
both diabetic rats and control rats, parotid-duct ligation reduced amylase
activity in both the parotid glands during fasting and in the gastric
contents after feeding. The amylase activity in the intestinal contents
after feeding was reduced by parotid-duct ligation in the diabetic rats.
Starch digestion in the gastro-intestinal tract after feeding was reduced
by parotid-duct ligation in the diabetic rats. The results suggest that
most of the amylase activity in the gastric contents and a large part of
the amylase activity in the intestinal contents are derived from the
parotid glands, and that parotid amylase plays an important role in starch
digestion in the gastro-intestinal tracts of diabetic rats.
