Differential sensitivity of rat exocrine and endocrine pancreas to cyclosporine.

The effect of 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg bw cyclosporine on rat endocrine and exocrine pancreatic function was studied. Glucose-dependent insulin secretion from the endocrine pancreas was shown to be significantly impaired 8 days after cyclosporine was given once daily at a dose as low as 5 mg/kg. CCK-8-stimulated amylase and lipase secretion were less sensitive to the noxious effect of cyclosporine being impaired at a dose of 10 mg/kg. Trypsin secretion was shown to be impaired at 20 mg/kg cyclosporine only. Our results demonstrate that cyclosporine causes dose-dependent impairment of both pancreatic endocrine and exocrine functions: the endocrine pancreas being more sensitive to the noxious action than the exocrine pancreas.