Disturbances in the regulation of glycaemia in rabbits following pancreatic duct ligation. Biochemical and immunocytochemical studies.

The effects of pancreatic duct ligation on endocrine function in the rabbit were studied over the short and medium term period (5 to 180 days). Hyperglycaemia appeared 30 days after ligation and persisted until the end of the experimental period (180 days). The highest glucose values were observed on day 90 after ligation (351 +/- 25 mg/100 ml). Glucose loading tests performed 5, 15, 30 and 180 days after ligation showed weak insulin release. Reduced pancreatic insulin stores could not account for this failure. Immunocytochemical studies showed dissociation of the islets (30 days after ligation) leading to small clusters of B cells scattered in a degenerative exocrine tissue (180 days).