Abstract
Changes in the activities of lysosomal thiol proteinases and their endogenous inhibitors were examined in the rat pancreatic tissue. Imposed stress such as fasting affected the activities of cathepsins B and H but not those of their endogenous inhibitors. However, changes in the activities of cathepsins B and H are closely related to changes in the activities of their inhibitors. During the phase of hypoglycemia and hyperinsulinemia induced by streptozotocin, there were increments in the activities of cathepsins B and H and their endogenous inhibitors. These changes were not related to increases in the levels of serum insulin but rather to pathological changes in the pancreas.
