[Effect of glucagon and insulin on the histochemical and functional alterations in the Langerhans islands after hepatectomy in dogs]

Abstract

Changes of Langerhans islands after 40% hepatectomy, and effects of GI therapy on the islets were investigated in dogs. In control group, one week and four weeks after the hepatectomy, ivGTT was examined followed by a blood sampling from the portal vein to measure the changes of glucose, insulin and glucagon, and areal changes of the islets were measured. In GI group, the same experiment was done with added GI therapy after operation. The following results were obtained. 1) In control group, portal plasma insulin level and insulin response were decreased one week after surgery, and sizes of islets were enlarged four weeks after surgery. 2) In GI group, there were no decrease in portal plasma insulin level and insulin response one week after surgery, and no enlargement of the sizes of the islets four weeks after surgery. 3) Changes in glucagon level and glucagon response were same as those of insulin, glucose level and these response. There was no difference between the two groups. 4) According to these observation, glucagon and insulin are exhausted one week after hepatectomy in dogs. It seems to be necessary to provide the dog with glucagon and insulin after hepatectomy.