[Influence of total pancreatectomy on the secretion of human growth hormone and the endocrine pancreas].

To evaluate the effect of total pancreatectomy on the secretion of human growth hormone, twenty-six patients undergoing total pancreatectomy and twelve healthy subjects (controls) were investigated. Blood glucose (BG), plasma insulin (IRI), C-peptide (CPR), immunoreactive glucagon (IRG) and human growth hormone (HGH) levels were determined. In the glucose tolerance test, the mean basal blood glucose level in the patients before operation was significantly higher than the level in the controls. The basal blood glucose level in the patients after operation was still higher than the level before operation. The responses of IRI, CPR, and IRG secretion after arginine infusion in the patients before operation were less than those in the controls. After operation, arginine infusion did not alter the levels of IRI, CPR and IRG. The mean basal HGH levels were not significantly different between the controls and the patients before and after operation. However, a statistically significant correlation was shown between the basal values of plasma HGH and those of plasma IRI in the patients after operation. Thus, it suggested that the basal secretion of HGH is closely related to the exogenous plasma insulin levels in the pancreatectomized patients. After arginine infusion, the HGH levels in the patients before operation were lower than the those in the controls, but insignificant. After operation, mean HGH levels were significantly lower than those before operation. These findings suggested the absence of pancreatic endocrine function caused by total pancreatectomy resulted in decreased responses of HGH secretion after arginine infusion.