Insulin and Amylase in the Postnatal Canine Pancreas 1

Abstract

Abstract

Pancreatic fragments from 1- to 5-week-old donors have been implanted into the peritoneal cavity of diabetic dogs. Considerable improvement in glucose tolerance resulted but the dogs occasionally developed a peritonitis as a result of necrosis of acinar tissue. In order to determine if younger donors would provide more suitable tissue the insulin and amylase levels of the canine pancreas were measured during the first postnatal week. The amylase level, an estimator of acinar development, was 0.04 amylase units (AU)/mg protein at birth. It then rose for the first 4 postnatal days, reaching a maximum value of 0.84 AU/mg protein on the 4th postpartum day and then dropped by the 6th day to the original level. Adult amylase levels were not reached during the first postnatal week. Insulin levels were 10,500 micro units (μU)/mg protein at birth. They rose to a maximum of 17,700 μU/mg protein on the 6th postpartum day. The ratio of insulin to amylase was 31,000 μU/AU at birth. It dropped to a minimum of 27,800 μU/AU on the 4th postpartum day and then rose to a maximum value of 67,500 μU/AU on the 6th day. The insulin/amylase ratios imply that neonatal canine pancreas would be preferable to adult tissue for implantation into diabetic dogs. The optimum age of the donors should be 6-7 days since at this time the insulin to amylase content of the pancreas was at the maximum value.