Pancreatic metabolic rate measured in vivo with heat-accumulation technique

This study is the first attempt to apply the heat-accumulation technique for metabolic studies to the pancreas. The initial temperature rise during arterial occlusion was measured with thermocouples sutured into the pancreas of seven anaesthetized pigs. Temperature recording were obtained during alterations of the metabolism induced by infusions of 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) and sodium cyanide (NaCN) into the pancreatic head. DNP 2.0 mg/min almost doubled, and NaCN 0.6 mg/min reduced the heat accumulation rate to one half of control. In four pigs the metabolism was estimated by measurements of oxygen consumption in an isolated in situ preparation of the pancreatic head. Median metabolic rate in the unstimulated gland was 0.09 cal/cm3-min. Metabolic rate estimated by heat-accumulation technique in a similar situation was 0.11 cal/cm3-min. The method is considered useful for evaluation of relative variations of pancreatic metabolism.