Abstract
A new perfusion technique was applied to the rat pancreas to elucidate neural mechanisms related to insulin secretion. The pancreas and a part of the gastroduodenal tract were perfused in situ with an artificial perfusion fluid consisting of 5% of rat red blood cells, 4% bovine serum albumin and 0.1 % of glucose and Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer. Stimulation (5-10V, 5 msec, 50 Hz for 5 min) to the right or bilateral cervical vagal nerves produced a significant increase in insulin activity in the perfusate. Acetylcholine (5-10 μg/0.1 ml) added to the perfusion fluid produced a dose-dependent increase in insulin activity in the perfusate, and the responses disappeared after pretreatment with atropine (100 μg/ml in perfusion fluid). After adding noradrenaline or isoproterenol (each 0.1 μg/0.1 ml) to the perfusion fluid, appreciable changes were not apparent.
