[The role of the duodenal mucosa in the adaptation of pancreatic alpha-amylase to the diet in the pig].

Exocrine pancreatic secretion was studied in the conscious, fistulated pig before and after (i) intravenous glucose injection and (ii) intravenous injections of intestinal mucosae obtained from pigs adapted to a high-starch diet and taken 30 and 60 min after the beginning of a meal of the same diet. Within 30 min after it was injected, the glucose inhibited pancreatic juice volume (--45.4 p. 100; P less than 0.001), total protein output (--54.2 p. 100; P less than 0.001) and specific amylase activity (--15.8 p. 100;P less than 0.001). Specific chymotrypsin activity increased (+ 5 p. 100; P less than 0.1), while that of lipase was not affected. On the contrary, the intravenous injection of intestinal mucosae increased pancreatic juice volume (greater than 49 p. 100; P less than 0.01), total protein output (greater than 55 p. 100; P less than 0.01) and specific amylase activity (greater than 33 p. 100; P less than 0.001), whilst specific lipase activity was inhibited (less than 8 p. 100; P less than 0.01). Specific chymotrypsin activity was unmodified. It is suggested that the duodenal mucosa may play a role in pancreatic enzyme adaptation to the diet; the possible mechanisms involved in this process are discussed.