THE INTERRELATION OF THE SURVIVING HEART AND PANCREAS OF THE DOG IN SUGAR METABOLISM

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Physiology
• Endocrinology

Background:

• The pancreas plays a crucial role in glucose metabolism.
• The exact mechanism by which the pancreas influences sugar utilization, particularly by the heart, remains incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of perfusing the pancreas with dextrose-containing Locke's solution on sugar utilization.
• To characterize the nature of any active substance released by the pancreas during perfusion.

Main Methods:

• Aseptically perfusing the pancreas with Locke's solution and dextrose.
• Circulating the perfusate through a living heart and measuring sugar utilization.
• Assessing the properties of the active pancreatic substance (e.g., heat stability, stability over time).

Main Results:

• The pancreas, when perfused, releases a substance that enhances sugar utilization by the heart.
• This pancreatic substance exhibits enzyme-like characteristics, including heat lability and instability.
• Sugar disappearance was dependent on a living heart and ceased when the perfusate was not circulated through the heart.

Conclusions:

• The perfused pancreas yields a substance that accelerates sugar utilization by the heart, suggesting an enzymatic role.
• This pancreatic factor appears to be involved in the normal regulation of sugar metabolism.
• The findings support the existence of an internal secretion from the pancreas that influences glucose utilization, potentially linked to diabetes research.