Experimental Pancreatic Lithiasis

Abstract

The author has previously reported that incomplete obstruction of the pancreatic duct and stasis of the pancreatic juice are the most important factors in the mechanism of pancreatic calculus formation.
Further studies were carried out to detect the biochemical change of the pancreatic juice in experimental animals with pancreatic duct ligation. The pure pancreatic juice was obtained by Pancreozymin-Secretin stimulation and its volume, bicarbonate concentration, amylase output, and electrolytes were determined. In the incompletely ligated group, the volume of pancreatic secretion was markedly reduced comparing to control, but no significant change in maximum bicarbonate concentration or amylase out-put were observed. In electrolytes, the natrium level decreased and the chloride increased in the ligated group, and the potassium level showed no difference. The calcium level, in contrast, showed remarkable increase in the ligated group.
From these results, it is presumed that the elevated calcium concentration in the reduced pancreatic juice accelerates calcium precipitation upon the mucous plugs in the pancreatic duct and forms pancreatic calculi.