The blood flow to the islets of Langerhans in different regions of the rat pancreas.

Pancreatic blood flow (PBF) and islet blood flow (IBF) have been determined separately in two different regions of the rat pancreas, namely, that perfused by the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and that perfused by the coeliac artery (CA). Although there were no differences in either the PBF or the IBF between these two regions, the IBF, when expressed as a percentage of PBF, was significantly higher in the region perfused by the SMA. It is concluded that glucose regulation of the blood flow to the islets and exocrine parenchyma is similar in the two regions perfused by SMA and CA. In the SMA region the percentage of blood supply to the islets, in relation to the acinar part, is, however, somewhat higher than in that of the CA region.