2016 Volume 60 Issue 4 Pages 153-159
Ghrelin is a peptide that is secreted from the stomach and plays a role in appetite, weight gain, and skeletal muscle composition. Compounded human ghrelin (CHG) is a candidate drug to improve the nutritional status after pancreatic surgery. However, adverse influences of ghrelin in terms of pancreatic fistula (PF) via the stimulation of exocrine secretion after pancreatectomy are a concern. The present study showed the influences of the administration of CHG with PF after distal pancreatectomy in a mouse model. Distal pancreatectomy was performed on 10-week-old male Wistar rats and 3 µg/kg or 30 µg/kg CHG was injected into the inferior vena cava during laparotomy. Ten rats were divided into two groups: a control group (no injection; n=5) and a CHG group (n=5 for each of 3 µg/kg and 30 µg/kg). Changes of body weight, amount of ascites, and the serum and ascetic amylase and lipase levels were examined on days 1, 3, and 7. In the case of administration of 3 µg/kg ghrelin, changes of body weight, amount of ascites, and serum amylase level were not significantly different between the groups during 7 days. Amylase level in ascites in the ghrelin administration group tended to be lower than that in the control group on day 3 (p=0.083), but there was no difference on days 1 and 7. In the case of a high dose of 30 µg/kg ghrelin, levels of weight loss were not significantly different between the groups. Although the lipase level in the serum and ascites tended to be lower in the ghrelin group than in the control group (p=0.08), the amylase levels in serum and ascites were not significantly different between the groups. There was also no remarkable difference in histological appearance between the groups during 7 days after surgery. The administration of CHG did not induce PF after distal pancreatectomy, which might inhibit lipase secretion in ascites. CHG injection can be safely performed after surgery.
