Influence of pancreatic neurotomy on regeneration of residual pancreas after major pancreatectomy in rats.

This study was performed to examine the influence of pancreatic neurotomy (N) on pancreatic regeneration after 90% pancreatectomy (P), excluding the parabiliary segment. One hundred and fifty male Wistar rats were divided into three groups, consisting of the PN, P, and laparotomy (L) groups. The ratios of wet wt of residual pancreas to body wt in groups with P increased after the procedures. The ratios in the P group reached their maximum at 10 d, and then decreased slightly, whereas those in the PN group rose gradually for a 60 d period. Regarding changes in the labeling indices in autoradiograms using 3H-thymidine and mitotic indices in exocrine cells, those indices in groups with P reached a peak at 3 d after the procedures, and then rapidly declined. Both indices in the PN group were lower during the first 10 d and thereafter higher than those in the P group. These results suggest that following pancreatic neurotomy, the potential for pancreatic regeneration continues over a longer period after major pancreatectomy.