Effect of chronic pancreatic juice diversion on enteroglucagon secretion and intestinal mucosal growth in dogs.

We developed a new canine model of chronic pancreatic juice diversion from duodenum to distal ileum in order to investigate the effect of pancreatic juice on the secretion of enteroglucagon, and the growth of intestinal mucosa. In seven adult mongrel dogs, the minor pancreatic duct was ligated and excised. Then, 3 cm of duodenal segment including the pancreatic duct was transformed into a small pouch which was anastomosed to the distal ileum. Butter ingestion tests were performed before and after surgery to evaluate the effect of surgery on enteroglucagon secretion. In addition, intestinal mucosal thickness was measured, using specimens taken both at the time of surgery and during autopsy at the end of the study. We observed significant hypersecretion of enteroglucagon and mucosal growth throughout the whole small intestine. However, extent or grade of mucosal growth was not related to the mucosal contact of pancreatic juice. These results suggested that chronic pancreatic juice diversion from duodenum to the distal ileum induced mucosal growth of the whole small intestine and hypersecretion of enteroglucagon may play a important role in this growth.