[Influence of vagotomy on glucose tolerance and on the responses of plasma insulin and exocrine pancreatic function followed glucose load or food ingestion in dogs].

A part of the intrapancreatic nerve fibres of dogs show 1-2 months after bilateral truncal vagotomy a decay of the medullary sheath; in addition, the histochemically demonstrable insulin content of the B-cells is reduced. These animals do no longer react to oral glucose administration or feeding a meat meal with a reflectoric early rise of plasma insulin concentration and of exocrine functional parameters (all the animals were bearing exocrine pancreas fistulas). The glucose tolerance and and the decrease of free fatty acids in serum were restricted. Also, the content of bicarbonate and protein in the pancreatic juice and the insulin secretion of vagotomized animals are strongly reduced in the subsequent test phase (up to 120 min) following oral or i.v. glucose administration and after feeding meat. The inhibition of exocrine volume secretion following i.v. glucose administration was enhanced by the intervention. The findings confirm the involvement of the N. vagus in the mechanisms of the enteroinsular axis that becomes active together with exocrine gastro- and duodenopancreatic reflexes to any kind of physiological enteral stimulation.