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. 2021 Apr 1;50(4):607-616.
doi: 10.1097/MPA.0000000000001809.

Vagotomy and Splenectomy Reduce Insulin Secretion and Interleukin-1β

Bruna Schumaker Siqueira  1 , Vanessa Marieli Ceglarek  1 , Ellen Carolina Zawoski Gomes  1 , Jean Franciesco Vettorazzi  2 , Thiago Rentz  3 , Juliane Zanon Nenevê  1 , Karoline Zanella Volinski  1 , Sandra Schmidt Moraes  1 , Ananda Malta  4 , Paulo Cezar de Freitas Mathias  4 , Henriette Rosa de Oliveira Emilio  5 , Sandra Lucinei Balbo  1 , Sabrina Grassiolli  1
Affiliations

Vagotomy and Splenectomy Reduce Insulin Secretion and Interleukin-1β

Bruna Schumaker Siqueira et al. Pancreas. .

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of vagotomy, when associated with splenectomy, on adiposity and glucose homeostasis in Wistar rats.

Methods: Rats were divided into 4 groups: vagotomized (VAG), splenectomized (SPL), VAG + SPL, and SHAM. Glucose tolerance tests were performed, and physical and biochemical parameters evaluated. Glucose-induced insulin secretion and protein expression (Glut2/glucokinase) were measured in isolated pancreatic islets. Pancreases were submitted to histological and immunohistochemical analyses, and vagus nerve neural activity was recorded.

Results: The vagotomized group presented with reduced body weight, growth, and adiposity; high food intake; reduced plasma glucose and triglyceride levels; and insulin resistance. The association of SPL with the VAG surgery attenuated, or abolished, the effects of VAG and reduced glucose-induced insulin secretion and interleukin-1β area in β cells, in addition to lowering vagal activity.

Conclusions: The absence of the spleen attenuated or blocked the effects of VAG on adiposity, triglycerides and glucose homeostasis, suggesting a synergistic effect of both on metabolism. The vagus nerve and spleen modulate the presence of interleukin-1β in β cells, possibly because of the reduction of glucose-induced insulin secretion, indicating a bidirectional flow between autonomous neural firing and the spleen, with repercussions for the endocrine pancreas.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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