Insulin sensitivity after pancreaticoduodenal transplantation with systemic an d portal venous drainage in inbred rats

To assess the metabolic consequences of pancreatic transplantation with portal v enous drainage and systemic venous drainage in induced inbred rats with streptoz ocin Methods Pancreaticoduodenal transplantation was performed on 8 rats with the donor porta l veins anastomosed to the recipient superior mesenteric vein and on 10 rats wit h the donor portal veins anastomosed to the recipient cava inferior vein We me asured the recipients' weight, urine and plasma glucose concentration, plasma in sulin concentration at the beginning, and before and after transplantation We used the euglycemi hyperinsulinemic glucose clamp test and glucose infusion req uired as an index of insulin sensitivity Results The plasma glucose and insulin concentration recovered to normal after transplan tation in the portal venous drainage group The plasma insulin levels increased in the systemic venous group after transplantation There was a difference in the glucose infusion required between the two groups Conclusion These data imply that portal venous drainage of the transplanted pancreas is an important factor in the determination of peripheral insulin sensitivity