Effect of insulin treatment on the regeneration of the remnant pancreas after major pancreatectomy in dogs.

The effect of exogenous insulin treatment on the pancreatic regeneration after major pancreatectomy was evaluated in dogs. More than 92% of the pancreas was removed near the duodenum with the main pancreatic duct left intact. All 26 dogs developed diabetes mellitus (DM) immediately after surgery, and these dogs were divided into two groups: insulin-treated group (n = 19) and noninsulin-treated group (n = 7). All seven dogs in the noninsulin-treated group died within seven weeks after surgery, whereas all dogs in the insulin-treated group survived until the twelfth week, except for six dogs sacrificed on the seventh week, and finally seven (53.8%) of 13 dogs recovered from DM. DNA and polyamine syntheses in the remnant pancreatic tissue at the third day increased more significantly in the insulin-treated group than in the noninsulin-treated group. Sigma IRI in IV-GTT was maintained more significantly in the insulin-treated group, and the regeneration rate at the seventh week was also significantly higher in the insulin-treated group than in the noninsulin treated group. Furthermore, the regeneration rate of the remnant pancreas at seventh week correlated well with DNA synthesis and ornithine decarboxylase activity on the third day. The exogenous insulin treatment after major pancreatectomy enhanced the proliferation of the remnant pancreas within the first week, and it maintained endogenous insulin secretion, promoting pancreatic regeneration.