Identification and characterization of a pancreatic intrinsic factor in the dog

An intrinsic factor has been identified in the canine pancreas, and output and properties of this protein have been compared with those of gastric intrinsic factor in the dog. Mean concentrations of intrinsic factor and peak outputs per minute were approximately 5- to 10-fold higher in pure pancreatic juice after stimulation with secretin and cholecystokinin, respectively, than in pentagastrin-stimulated gastric juice. Purified gastric and pancreatic intrinsic factors had an identical molecular mass of 65 kDa, estimated by gel filtration on Sephacryl S-200, while sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrated single bands corresponding to 53 kDa. Immunoblots showed that rabbit polyclonal antiserum to canine gastric intrinsic factor cross-reacted with canine pancreatic intrinsic factor. Gastric and pancreatic intrinsic factor-cyano[57Co]cobalamin complexes exhibited comparable association constants for ileal receptors in canine brush-border vesicles, while there was minimal binding to jejunal vesicles. These findings demonstrate that the canine pancreas is an important source of an intrinsic factor that closely resembles gastric intrinsic factor in the dog.