Effects of autonomic denervation on canine exocrine pancreatic secretion and blood flow

Summary The effect of autonomic denervation on the exocrine pancreatic secretion and blood flow was studied in a group of dogs. Pancreatic secretion was collected and analyzed for volume and bicarbonate by direct cannulation of the main papilla through a duodenotomy prior to and following truncal vagotomy and celiac plexus denervation. Pancreatic blood flow was determined by the radioisotope distribution method (¹⁴¹Ce). Truncal vagotomy causes a reduction in pancreatic secretion of volume and bicarbonate by 25–30%, while celiac denervation caused a reduction of 70% in the secretion. The mean baseline pancreatic blood flow was 0.5 ml/g pancreas/min. Truncal vagotomy did not cause any significant flow changes, while celiac denervation caused a significant increase in blood flow of 350% (to 1.75 ml/g/min). These results suggest that both the parasympathetic and the sympathetic system affect pancreatic secretion independently of their effect upon pancreatic blood flow.