title: Interaction of neurotensin with caerulein or secretin on digestive tract growth in rats.
abstract: Because neurotensin may potentiate exocrine pancreatic secretory responses to cholecystokinin and secretin, we examined interactions of neurotensin with caerulein or secretin on growth of pancreas, stomach, small intestine, and colon. Rats were injected with saline, neurotensin (100 micrograms/kg), caerulein (0.67 micrograms/kg), secretin (100 micrograms/kg), or neurotensin plus caerulein or secretin every 8 h for 5 days. Pancreas, stomach, small intestine, and colon were weighed and assayed for DNA, protein, and digestive enzymes. Although neurotensin increased pancreatic weight (P less than 0.01), DNA (P less than 0.01), and protein content (P less than 0.05) by 20-30%, it had less than additive effects on responses to caerulein and secretin. Neurotensin had no effects on pancreatic enzymes or on responses to caerulein or secretin. Neurotensin alone had no effects on growth of the oxyntic gland area or antrum but inhibited increases in antral weight, DNA, and protein caused by secretin. Neurotensin increased small intestine weight (9%, P less than 0.05) and protein content (23%, P less than 0.01). Secretin also increased weight (22%), DNA (29%), and protein content (48%) of the small intestine (all P less than 0.01), but neurotensin and secretin together had less than additive effects. Our results suggest that neurotensin inhibits rather than potentiates certain growth effects of caerulein or secretin on the pancreas and other organs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Kansas University Medical Center, Kansas City.
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Hoang
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Bussjaeger
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Solomon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002108:Ceruletide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D003106:Colon / Q000254:growth & development; D004064:Digestive System / Q000254:growth & development*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D009496:Neurotensin / Q000502:physiology*; D009929:Organ Size; D010179:Pancreas / Q000254:growth & development; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D012633:Secretin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D013270:Stomach / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D012633:Secretin; D009496:Neurotensin; D002108:Ceruletide