Pancreatic interstitial pH in human and feline chronic pancreatitis.
OBJECTIVE
Advanced chronic pancreatitis is associated with a reduction in pancreatic blood flow. To determine the physiological significance of this decrease, pancreatic interstitial pH was measured in a model of obstructive chronic pancreatitis in cats and in patients with chronic pancreatitis.


METHODS
In cats, pancreatic interstitial pH and blood flow were measured serially under basal conditions and after secretory stimulation as chronic pancreatitis evolved. Basal pancreatic interstitial pH was also measured in patients undergoing an operation for chronic pancreatitis or periampullary cancer (controls).


RESULTS
In normal cats, pancreatic interstitial pH was 7.41 +/- 0.01 and blood flow was 124 mL.min-1.(100 g pancreas-1). With the evolution of chronic pancreatitis, interstitial pH and blood flow progressively decreased to 7.21 +/- 0.04 (P < 0.007) and 75 +/- 11 (P < 0.007), respectively. From 1 to 2 weeks, secretory stimulation reduced pancreatic interstitial pH and blood flow further, but as secretory function was lost, this effect disappeared. In patients with chronic pancreatitis, the interstitial pH was lower (7.02 +/- 0.06) than in controls (7.25 +/- 0.04; P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that, in chronic pancreatitis, acidic metabolites associated with pancreatic secretion accumulate within the pancreas, probably because of impaired blood flow.
Patel
A G
AG
Department of Surgery, Sepulveda Veterans Administration Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Toyama
M T
MT
Alvarez
C
C
Nguyen
T N
TN
Reber
P U
PU
Ashley
S W
SW
Reber
H A
HA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010179:Pancreas / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology