Effect of Hepatectomy on Caerulein Stimulated Pancreatic Exocrine Function in Rats

Tetsuya Hirano, Tadao Manabe, Takayoshi Tobe

First Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University

To clarify the exocrine pancreatic function after hepatectomy, changes in amylase secretion in response to caerulein were investigated in 70% hepatectomized rats. In the early state (4 days) after hepatectomy, in-vivo caeruelin stimulated amylase output was significantly higher than in sham-operated and normal rats. In the recovering stage (7 days) after hepatectomy, amylase output was also significantly increased. In the in-vitro incubation system, the caerulein concentration for the maximum amylase output was 10^-10M 7 days after hepatectomy and shifted to a lower concentration than in the sham-operated or normal rats. The amylase content was significantly higher both 4 and 7 days in rats of hepatectomy than in the sham-operated and normal rats. These findings suggest that an increase in amylase synthesis and in sensitivity of acinar cells to caerulein occur in the pancreas after hepatectomy.

Key words
hepatectomy, exocrine pancreatic function, caerulein, amylase

Reprint requests
Tadao Manabe First Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University
54 Shogoin-Kawaracho, Sakyoku, Kyoto, 606 JAPAN

Accepted
June 13, 1990

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