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Long-term effect of pancreas transplantation on diabetic hyperglucagonemia
Pancreas isotransplantation was performed on streptozotocin-diabetic Wistar rats. To study the influence of the graft on diabetic hyperglucagonemia, immunoreactive glucagon (IRG) and its response to alanine (peak IRG) were determined in peripheral blood at intervals for up to 8 months after the transplantation. Concentrations of IRG and immunoreactive insulin (IRI) in effluent blood from host pancreas (portal vein) and graft (caval vein) were measured 4 months after the transplantation to estimate the hormone release from both organs. Following transplantation, caval IRI increased sixfold. Portal IRI increased 180% and reached 65% of the concentration observed in control rats. Peripheral basal and peak IRG were initially restored to normal, but were later increased to levels equal to those of diabetic rats. Also portal and caval IRG concentrations were similar in recipients and diabetic rats. The results show that relatively small amounts of glucagon are released from the graft, and that the exaggerated glucagon release from the host pancreas is only transiently normalized following pancreas transplantation.
Pancreas isotransplantation was performed on streptozotocin-diabetic Wistar rats. To study the influence of the graft on diabetic hyperglucagonemia, immunoreactive glucagon (IRG) and its response to alanine (peak IRG) were determined in peripheral blood at intervals for up to 8 months after the transplantation. Concentrations of IRG and immunoreactive insulin (IRI) in effluent blood from host pancreas (portal vein) and graft (caval vein) were measured 4 months after the transplantation to estimate the hormone release from both organs. Following transplantation, caval IRI increased sixfold. Portal IRI increased 180% and reached 65% of the concentration observed in control rats. Peripheral basal and peak IRG were initially restored to normal, but were later increased to levels equal to those of diabetic rats. Also portal and caval IRG concentrations were similar in recipients and diabetic rats. The results show that relatively small amounts of glucagon are released from the graft, and that the exaggerated glucagon release from the host pancreas is only transiently normalized following pancreas transplantation.