Studies on the Pancreatectomy in Experimental Diabetes

Abstract

Experimental studies were made on the changes of blood sugar value of alloxan diabetes rabbits during a peroid of one month, after performing pancreas resection of 30%, 60% and 80% excision of body and tail of the organ respectively. And further histological examinations were conducted on the remaining pancreas and the other endocrine organs.
The hyperglycemia of alloxan diabetes recoverd to normal value about 48 hours after a 30% excision of pancreas, and the blood sugar contents were kept to normal value for the following 2 weeks. At the end of the 2nd week, it indicated a slight elevation but after 5 days it returned back to normal value.
In the 60% and 80% excised cases, the high blood sugar value was kept for 3 weeks after the operation, and then gradually went down to normal value.
On the other hand, the results of histological examination of several endocrine glands, demonstrated active regeneration of B cells in the remaining pancreas of the 30% excised cases. It was observed that the regeneration of B cells in the 60% and 80% excises cases was half as compared to the 30% excised case.
In the same pictures, hypofunction was observed in pituitary glands, adrenal glands, and thyroid glands, but no changes in ovaries and testicles.
From the above mentioned results, the regeneration of B cells in the remaining pancreas, and the hypofunction of the pituitary glands, adrenal glands, and thyroid glands, which was brought about by the resection of pancreas, are considered as a means of recovery of blood sugar contents of alloxan diabetes to normal value. These results suggest the possibility of surgical treatment of diabetes in clinical cases.