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Development and regulation of porcine pancreatic function
S G Pierzynowski1, B R Weström, J Svendsen
1Department of Animal Physiology, University of Lund, Sweden.
Summary
Weaning pigs significantly increases pancreatic juice enzymes and antibacterial activity. Milk regulates enzyme production, and hormones like pancreastatin influence secretion, with tissue metabolism linked to exocrine pancreas function.
Area of Science:
- Comparative physiology
- Gastroenterology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Pancreatic exocrine secretion in pigs changes significantly after weaning.
- Milk consumption influences pancreatic enzyme regulation in suckling piglets.
- Hormonal peptides like enterostatin and pancreastatin modulate pancreatic function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the changes in pancreatic juice composition and function during piglet growth.
- To investigate the role of diet and hormones in regulating exocrine pancreatic secretion.
- To explore the relationship between insulin levels and pancreatic secretion in pigs.
Main Methods:
- Development of a surgical procedure for collecting pure, inactivated pancreatic juice from pigs.
- Analysis of basal and postprandial pancreatic juice composition (total secretion, protein, amylase, trypsin, lipase, colipase, carboxylester lipase).
- Administration of hormones (secretin, CCK) and assessment of pancreatic responses in weaned and hypoinsulinemic pigs.
Main Results:
- Weaning leads to marked increases in postprandial pancreatic enzyme levels and antibacterial activity.
- Milk appears to regulate the amount and type of enzymes produced by the exocrine pancreas.
- Hormonal peptides (enterostatin, pancreastatin) inhibit pancreatic secretion; hypoinsulinemic pigs lack a postprandial response but can be stimulated by hormones.
Conclusions:
- Piglet age is less critical than weaning status for exocrine pancreas development.
- Milk components and digestive products play a role in regulating pancreatic secretion.
- Exocrine pancreas secretion and tissue metabolism are interconnected, particularly in the context of insulin regulation.