Pancreatic intraductal pressure: I. A consideration of regulatory factors.

Evaluation of pancreatic duct pressure may be a pathogenetic mechanism in the development of acute pancreatitis. In this investigation the effect of bilateral cervical vagisection as well as the introduction of alcohol into the stomach and duodenum on pancreatic pressures in the main duct were studied in the dog. Bilateral vagisection resulted in decrease in pancreatic duct pressure. Intragastric alcohol elevated and intraduodenal alcohol depressed pancreatic ductal pressures before but had no effect after vagisection. These studies suggest regulation of pancreatic duct pressures by short as well as long nerve reflexes.