Glucose intolerance and hyperplasia of islet D-cells after partial hepatectomy in dogs.

Soon after about 40% hepatectomy in dogs, the peripheral blood showed hyperglycemia, similar to that in diabetes, and impaired insulin response in the intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT). Histologically, at this stage, the number of islet D-cells was increased, but there was no rise in portal somatostatin. Thus, in this glucose intolerance after hepatectomy, somatostatin seems to play an important role as a paracrine hormone by inhibiting the secretion of insulin by islet B-cells in the pancreas itself.