Abstract
Hypophysectomy results in a characteristic atrophy of the pancreas. Chronic administration of pentagastrin to hypophysectomized rats results in an increase in the weight of the pancreas. This growth is accompanied by changes in the nucleic acid content of the tissue (increase in ribonucleic acid content, increase in the ratio of ribonucleic acid-deoxyribonucleic acid, and decrease in deoxyribonucleic acid concentration) which indicate an increase in the cytoplasmic content of the tissue. These changes are qualitatively similar to the changes observed in intact animals receiving similar treatment with pentagastrin. However, in hypophysectomized animals, an increase in the total content of deoxyribonucleic acid is also observed, indicating a concurrent increase in the nuclear content of the tissue. No change in acinar cell size is observed. The suggestion is put forward that in hypophysectomized rats, pentagastrin treatment stimulates pancreatic hyperplasia in addition to hypertrophy of the gland. Increase in weight of the fundus of the stomach and in a segment of duodenum is also observed. The mechanism of pentagastrin-stimulated pancreatic growth in the absence of the pituitary is discussed.
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