THE INFLUENCE OF CHRONIC ADMINISTRATION OF PENTAGASTRIN ON THE RAT PANCREAS

P.D. Mayston, J. A. Barrowman

Quarterly Journal of Experimental Physiology and Cognate Medical Sciences · 1971 · 95 citations · 0 references

Concepts

Abstract

Chronic administration of pentagastrin to rats results in hypertrophy of the acinar cells of the pancreas. This hypertrophy is accompanied by a decrease in the specific activities of pancreatic enzymes of the tissue in terms of protein content, and an increase in the RNA : DNA ratio of the tissue. An increase in weight of a duodenal segment has also been observed. The suggestion is put forward that the tetrapeptide, Try‐Met‐Asp‐Phe‐NH 2 , the sequence occurring at the carboxyl terminus of gastrin and cholecystokinin, may exert a trophic influence upon several tissues of the upper gastrointestinal tract.