Relationship between development of fibrosis and hemodynamic changes of the pancreas in dogs

Studies were conducted to investigate the relationship between development of fibrosis and hemodynamic changes in the pancreas in dogs. The basal blood flow rate in the atrophied, fibrotic pancreas was preserved at almost the same level as in the normal pancreas. Fibrotic pancreas responded to VIP with increased blood flow, but not to administration of secretin. On the other hand, normal pancreas showed a brisk increase of blood flow in response to both of these agents. Our findings suggest that direct arterial acinar blood flow per gram of acini decreases prominently, whereas direct arterial flow to the islets per gram of islet is well maintained after the development of pancreatic fibrosis. It is also suggested that secretin acts indirectly by stimulating metabolic activity of the acinar cells with a secondary increase in blood flow, whereas VIP has a direct effect on the pancreatic vasculature.