Effects of Starvation and Feeding on the Exocrine Pancreas of the Chicken

Abstract

A permanent pancreatic fistula was used to study the effects of starvation and feeding on the exocrine pancreas of conscious chicken. The pancreatic secretion per 1 kg. body weight of 24 hr. starved chicken was the same as that of rat and larger than those of sheep and dog. Furthermore, chicken starved for more than 72 hr. was able to secrete the same volume of pancreatic juice as that of 24 hr. starved chicken. Feeding and sham feeding of the starved chicken caused small but definite increases in volume of the secretion. The increases were not seen in the vagotomized animal. It is concluded that chicken pancreas may secrete a certain amount of juice continuously regardless of outer control.