Plasma somatostatin-like immunoreactivity in depancreatized dogs.

Abstract

The present study was designed to determine the D cell response to ingested nutrients in totally depancreatized dogs. Basal levels of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SLI) averaged 135 ± 12 pg/ml in 7 depancreatized dogs and 146 ± 10 pg/ml in 30 controls (P = NS). In 7 conscious depancreatized dogs, an intragastric casein hydrolysate load elicited a small but significant rise of 20 pg/ml in peripheral venous plasma SLI levels during the first 60 min (P < 0.02); the incremental SLI (sum of the increments) during this period was 103 ±31 pg/ml, significantly less than the 278 ± 60 pg/ml in the normal control dogs (P < 0.05). In contrast to normal dogs, SLI did not rise in the depancreatized dogs in response to a fat-rich meat meal. After a liver meal, SLI levels rose by 30–40 pg/ml (P = NS) compared to the 80 pg/ml rise in the normal dogs. Gastric vein SLI levels were measured during laparotomy in six depancreatized and five control dogs after an intragastric load of casein hydrolysate. Antral vein SLI le...