Influence of glucocorticoids on the secretion of pancreatic juice in the rat.
The influence of adrenalectomy and hydrocortisone treatment on the exocrine pancreatic secretion has been studied in anaesthetized rats. In the adrenalectomized animals Na+ administered in the saline solution provided for drinking was able to maintain standard sodium levels in serum. In these animals an increase of Na+ secretion in pancreatic juice was observed. Furthermore, the osmotic effect created by the increase in Na+ would account for the increase in pancreatic flow. In these adrenalectomized rats, an increase in K+ output is observed, which can be explained by the high K+ concentrations in serum. Likewise adrenalectomy decreased pancreatic enzyme secretion and produced a loss in weight of the organ that is accounted for by a lack of glucocorticoids. Hydrocortisone administration did not affect neither the secretion nor the weight of the pancreas of the control rats but the hormone proved to be effective in adrenalectomized rats producing a pancreatic secretion close to normal, balancing the secretory rate of water, Na+ and K+, completely restoring total protein secretion and the weight of the pancreas but amylase secretion in part only. It is therefore concluded that the weight of the pancreas and its exocrine secretion are clearly influenced by adrenalectomy and by substitution therapy with hydrocortisone. The administration of this hormone (25 mg.kg-1.day-1 along 6 days) did not affect intact animals.
Manso
M
M
Departamento de Fisiología y Farmacología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Salamanca, Spain.
De Dios
I
I
Garcia
A
A
Calvo
J J
JJ
Lopez
M A
MA
D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000502:physiology; D000315:Adrenalectomy; D000818:Animals; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D010189:Pancreatic Juice / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium; D006854:Hydrocortisone