Effect of total gastrectomy on remnant islet cell function after major pancreatectomy in rats

This study was designed to investigate the effect of total gastrectomy on remnant islet cell function after 85% distal pancreatectomy in rats. Eight-week-old Wistar male rats were divided into the following three groups: group 1, laparotomy; group 2, distal pancreatectomy; and group 3, distal pancreatectomy with total gastrectomy. Four weeks after the operation, i.v. glucose tolerance tests (ivGTT) were performed. The body weight in group 3 rats 4 weeks after the operation was significantly lower than that of the other two groups (p less than 0.05). Glucose tolerance was impaired in both groups 2 and 3; group 3 was more impaired than group 2. Immunoreactive insulin (IRI) concentration in both groups 2 and 3 was much lower than that in group 1 throughout the ivGTT. Furthermore, IRI concentration in group 3 was lower than group 2 at all times. The integrated secretion of insulin for the 45 minutes after glucose injection was lower in group 3 than in group 2. It is concluded that total gastrectomy injures remnant pancreatic endocrine function after 85% distal pancreatectomy in rats.