Endocrine and exocrine function of pancreatic fragments autotransplanted into hepatic parenchyma.

We studied the use of hepatic parenchyma as a recipient site for pancreatic fragment transplantation. Endocrine and exocrine pancreatic functions were evaluated following pancreatic autotransplantation in 26 mongrel dogs that had undergone total pancreatectomy. The endocrine function of the pancreatic tissue transplanted to hepatic parenchyma was significantly inferior to that of normal controls. Cholecystic bile amylase concentrations were markedly elevated in six dogs that had been implanted with pancreatic fragments in their hepatic parenchyma and had survived more than 2 months. Also, choledochal bile amylase concentrations increased significantly following pancreozymin-secretion (PS) injection. In contrast, cholecystic bile amylase concentrations in normal dogs were low and choledochal bile amylase concentrations did not respond to a PS load. Histological examination of pancreatic autografts in hepatic parenchyma revealed marked proliferation of exocrine tissue with abundant zymogen granules and reconstruction of pancreatic lobules with a few islets.