Effects of wheat bran on exocrine pancreas secretion in the pig

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of wheat bran consumption on exocrine pancreas secretion in pigs. Sixteen Large-White pigs were divided into two groups. The first group (control) was fed a diet without wheat bran and the second one (experimental) a diet containing 40% wheat bran. After one week the animals were fitted with two permanent fistulae (in the pancreatic duct and the duodenum) and/or with a catheter in a carotid artery. After an 8-day recovery period, pancreatic secretion (volume, protein content and output, chymotrypsin, trypsin, lipase and amylase activities) and plasma levels of some gastro-intestinal peptides [secretin, cholecystokinin (CCK), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), somatostatin and pancreatic polypeptide (PP)] were measured over an experimental period of 5 days. The results show that wheat bran intake induced an increase in the volume (+ 115%) and protein output (+ 36%) of the pancreatic juice secreted in a 24-hour period, whereas protein concentration decreased. All enzyme activities were enhanced by wheat bran. The plasma levels of secretin, VIP, somatostatin and PP were higher in the experimental than in the control group. On the contrary, plasma CCK levels were not affected by wheat bran consumption.