Pancreatic hormone profiles and metabolism posthepatectomy in the dog. Evidence for a hepatotrophic role of insulin, glucagon, and pancreatic polypeptide.
Gut-related peptide hormones, especially insulin and glucagon, have been implicated in promoting hepatic regeneration. To elucidate the interrelationship between pancreatic peptide hormones and hepatic regenerative activity, we evaluated pancreatic hormone levels and their metabolism before and over a 15-day period after limited (42%) and extended (72%) hepatectomy in the dog. Serum insulin, glucagon, and pancreatic polypeptide levels increased significantly after both limited and extended hepatectomy but not after sham laparotomy. In the case of glucagon only, these increases were related to the extent of liver resection. No significant changes in plasma somatostatin levels were observed posthepatectomy. Plasma glucose levels remained normal throughout the period of study. Metabolic clearance rates and plasma half-lives for insulin, glucagon, and pancreatic polypeptide did not change over the study period. Peripheral C-peptide/insulin molar ratios were unchanged posthepatectomy, indicating no change in hepatic insulin extraction. In the absence of demonstrable changes in hormone metabolism or metabolic stimuli to secretion, these increases in pancreatic hormone levels, coinciding with the period of known maximal hepatic regenerative activity, are compatible with the notion that these are hepatotrophic responses, which could conceivably be mediated by humoral feedback signals from the liver to the endocrine pancreas.
D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005934:Glucagon / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006498:Hepatectomy; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008115:Liver Regeneration; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D010191:Pancreatic Polypeptide / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
D001786:Blood Glucose; D002096:C-Peptide; D007328:Insulin; D013004:Somatostatin; D010191:Pancreatic Polypeptide; D005934:Glucagon