Abstract
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.
