Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 2, 2025
05:38
Isolating and Analyzing Cells of the Pancreas Mesenchyme by Flow Cytometry
Published on: January 28, 2017
12.4K
Gut Microbiota Regulate Pancreatic Growth, Exocrine Function, and Gut Hormones
Khyati Girdhar1, Marion Soto2, Qian Huang1
1Biology Department Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA.
Diabetes
|February 25, 2022
Summary
High-fat diets disrupt gut microbiota, leading to pancreatic dysfunction and altered gut hormones in obesity. Antibiotic treatment reversed these effects, suggesting a link between gut bacteria and metabolic health.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Metabolic Syndrome
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Gut microbiota alterations are linked to obesity and metabolic syndrome.
- Exocrine pancreatic dysfunction is common in diabetes and obesity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced gut dysbiosis on pancreatic function.
- To determine if modulating gut microbiota can reverse diet-induced metabolic and pancreatic changes.
Main Methods:
- Mice were fed a chow diet, HFD, or HFD with antibiotics (vancomycin/metronidazole).
- Pancreas weight, plasma gut hormone levels, and fecal protein expression were analyzed.
- Gut microbiota transplantation and antibiotic treatment in obese humans were also studied.
Main Results:
- HFD increased pancreas weight and altered gut hormone levels (GLP-1, PYY, GIP).
- HFD significantly changed fecal protein expression, including pancreatic enzymes (amylase, elastase), which were reversed by antibiotics.
- Microbiota transfer reproduced HFD-induced changes; antibiotics improved exocrine function in obese men with prediabetes.
Conclusions:
- Gut microbiota alterations in obesity can negatively impact pancreatic growth and exocrine function.
- Modulating gut microbiota may offer therapeutic potential for obesity-related metabolic and pancreatic disorders.
More Related Videos
07:44Surgical Injury to the Mouse Pancreas through Ligation of the Pancreatic Duct as a Model for Endocrine and Exocrine Reprogramming and Proliferation
Published on: August 7, 2015
16.4K
08:32Efficient Generation of Pancreas/Duodenum Homeobox Protein 1+ Posterior Foregut/Pancreatic Progenitors from hPSCs in Adhesion Cultures
Published on: March 27, 2019
6.2K
Related Concept Videos
01:40Hormonal Regulation
44.8K
Hormones regulate a significant portion of digestion through activation of the neuroendocrine system. The neuroendocrine system of digestion contains many different hormones all with multiple functions that are both, directly and indirectly, involved in digestion.
44.8K
01:23Anatomy of the Intestines
83.8K
Although digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids may begin in the stomach, it is completed in the intestine. The absorption of nutrients, water, and electrolytes from food and drink also occurs in the intestine. The intestines can be divided into two structurally distinct organs—the small and large intestines.
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the...
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the...
83.8K
01:16Cells and Secretions of the Pancreas
3.0K
The pancreas, a vital organ within the abdominal cavity, plays dual roles in the digestive and endocrine systems, collaborating with exocrine and endocrine cells to maintain optimal digestion and blood sugar levels.
Exocrine function is carried out by acinar cells, organized into clusters known as acini. These cells contribute to digestion by releasing substantial quantities of enzyme-rich, alkaline digestive juices.
Concurrently, the dispersed clusters of endocrine cells throughout the...
Exocrine function is carried out by acinar cells, organized into clusters known as acini. These cells contribute to digestion by releasing substantial quantities of enzyme-rich, alkaline digestive juices.
Concurrently, the dispersed clusters of endocrine cells throughout the...
3.0K
01:25Regulation of the Digestive System
1.1K
Digestive activity regulation hinges on three primary components. Activation is prompted by a multitude of mechanical and chemical indicators, primarily detected by receptors within the stomach and intestines' walls. These receptors predominantly respond to factors such as mechanical stretching of the organ walls, changes in pH and osmolarity, and the presence of digesting materials and their by-products.
The effectors in this regulation system are glands and smooth muscles. Activation of...
The effectors in this regulation system are glands and smooth muscles. Activation of...
1.1K
01:23Renewal of Intestinal Stem Cells
2.8K
The intestinal epithelial lining rapidly renews every 4 to 5 days. The renewal is facilitated by intestinal stem cells (ISCs) located at the base of the crypt– a gland located at the bottom of each villus. ISCs divide asymmetrically to form new stem cells and progenitor daughter cells. The daughter cells are called transit-amplifying (TA) cells which move upwards along the crypt and either differentiate into absorptive cells– the enterocytes or secretory cells– including the...
2.8K
01:29Bacterial Flora of the Large Intestine
706
The gut microbiome is formed by a vast and diverse community of bacteria that colonizes our large intestine. These bacteria start residing in the gut from birth and continue diversifying throughout life, influenced by factors such as diet, lifestyle, and stress. The gut bacterial community also includes bacteria from food and those that enter the colon through the anus.
The normal gut flora of the colon plays a critical role in generating essential vitamins such as vitamins K, B5, and B7.
The normal gut flora of the colon plays a critical role in generating essential vitamins such as vitamins K, B5, and B7.
706