[Compensation of experimental insular insufficiency by altering the portal blood flow]

Experimental insular insufficiency and hyperglycemia in dogs was induced by subtotal resection of the pancreas. The diverting of venous blood from the pancreas into the systemic circulation via the spleno-caval venous anastomosis promoted a reduction of insulin metabolization in the liver on the first passage. This led to an increase in peripheral blood insulin and rapid compensation for hyperglycehia induced by resection of 80% pancreas. No gross morphological changes in the liver were revealed during 4 months after anastomosis establishment. A decrease in the glycogen content in the liver and peripheral muscles was noted after blood shunting. The subtotal resection of the pancreas coupled with pancreatic duct ligation resulted in gross fibrotic changes in the pancreas and atrophy of the exocrine tissue. On the other hand, the endocrine tissue gets hypertrophied, being less prone to fibrosis.