Tissue Kallikrein and Tonin Levels in Submandibular Glands of STZ-Induced Diabetic Rats and the Effects of Insulin

The levels of tissue kallikrein, tonin, and other kallikrein-like proteinases were determined in extracts of rat submandibular glands 3 mo after the induction of diabetes with STZ (65 mg/kg i.v.). Total kallikrein-like proteinase activity was assayed catalytically with the fluorogenic substrate DVLR-AFC. Tissue kallikrein was assayed by using the same substrate in the presence of SBTI. Activity of other kallikrein-like proteinases was defined as the difference between the total kallikrein-like activity and that of tissue kallikrein. Tonin was assayed by using the substrate ZVKKR-AFC in the presence of aprotinin. Results were compared with age-matched controls and with diabetic rats that had received daily insulin injections for the last week of the test period. The results showed that all activities were significantly reduced in diabetic glands compared with controls. Insulin treatment restored concentrations of tissue kallikrein activity, whereas the activities of tonin and other kallikrein-like proteinases were unchanged. RIA supported these findings. The results indicate that in rat submandibular glands, insulin affects the synthesis of kallikrein-like proteinases in different ways and, allowing for the slowness of the processes involved, insulin may exert a direct influence on the regulation of tissue kallikrein synthesis but only have indirect effects on the synthesis of tonin and the closely related kallikrein-like proteinases.