Decreased pancreatic exocrine function in the mutant Eisai hyperbilirubinemic rat (EHBR)

The Eisai hyperbilirubinemic rat (EHBR) is a Sprague-Dawley rat (SDR) mutant with conjugated hyperbilirubinemia as an autosomal recessive trait. EHBRs manifest jaundice from birth, which is permanent except for a transient decrease at 6-8 weeks of age. To investigate whether the hyperbilirubinemia affects pancreatic exocrine function and acinar cell growth, EHBRs at 6 (without jaundice) and 12 weeks (with jaundice) of age were compared, along with SDRs as controls. Pancreatic wet weights did not significantly differ, but amylase content of acini was lower in EHBRs than SDRs. No correlation was found between pancreatic wet weight and serum bilirubin levels in EHBRs. In vitro amylase release in response to 1-100 pM cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8), 1 microM 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate, and 2.5 microM calcium ionophore A23187, and in vivo pancreatic secretion stimulated by CCK-8 (0.08 microg/kg body weight/h) were significantly lower in the EHBR cases than in the SDRs. At the electron microscopic level, many acinar cell nuclei were pyknotic, most elements of their Golgi complexes were atrophied, some mitochondria demonstrated fusion, and the rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum (RER) was dilated in EHBRs. These findings are indicative of a hypofunctional state. However, no differences between EHBRs at 6 and 12 weeks of age were evident, suggesting that the hyperbilirubinemia does not exert any pronounced influence on acinar cell growth or pancreatic exocrine function.