Interaction of hydrocortisone and caerulein on pancreatic size and composition in the rat

An experimental study on the effects of selected drugs on pancreatic regeneration after partial pancreatectomy

This study was undertaken to determine the effect of the single and combined administration of caerulein, hydrocortisone, and FOY-305 (camostat) on the regeneration of the remnant pancreas after a 90% pancreatectomy in rats. After undergoing either a sham operation or a 90% pancreatectomy, the rats were administered the three drugs either singly or in combination. After the rats were killed, the pancreas was weighed and examined for tissue amylase activity, tissue protein content and total DNA content. The results were as follows: In the sham operation group, the caerulein among three drugs produced a significant trophic effect. The trophic effect in the combined administration group was greater than that in the single administration group. In the 90% pancreatectomy group, of the three drugs administered, hydrocortisone produced the most significant trophic effect. The trophic effect in the combined administration group was greater than that in the single administration group. These data suggest that the trophic effect of caerulein is significant in mature pancreatic cells while that of hydrocortisone is an immature one and that an additive effect of the three drugs was observed.

Small bowel bypass prevents the trophic action of cholecystokinin on the rat pancreas

The effect of a chronic administration of cholecystokinin (CCK) on the rat pancreas has been studied in rats subjected to a 90% jejunoileal bypass or an intestinal transection (controls). Jejunoileal bypass, when compared to transection, did not modify the size of the pancreas but decreased its enzyme content, especially for amylase, and reduced the number of zymogen granules. These structural and biochemical changes were maintained when bypassed animals were treated three times daily and for six days with cholecystokinin (20 Ivy Dog Units (IDU)/kg). In contrast, CCK treatment in transected animals induced growth of the pancreas due to cellular hypertrophy and hyperplasia; pancreatic enzyme content, especially for chymotrypsin, and the population of zymogen granules in acinar cells were also enhanced. It is concluded that jejunoileal bypass prevents the trophic action of chronic CCK on the pancreas.