An experimental study on the effects of selected drugs on pancreatic regeneration after partial pancreatectomy.

This study was undertaken to determine the effect of the single and combined administration of caerulein, hydrocortisone, and FOY-305 (camostat) on the regeneration of the remnant pancreas after a 90% pancreatectomy in rats. After undergoing either a sham operation or a 90% pancreatectomy, the rats were administered the three drugs either singly or in combination. After the rats were killed, the pancreas was weighed and examined for tissue amylase activity, tissue protein content and total DNA content. The results were as follows: In the sham operation group, the caerulein among three drugs produced a significant trophic effect. The trophic effect in the combined administration group was greater than that in the single administration group. In the 90% pancreatectomy group, of the three drugs administered, hydrocortisone produced the most significant trophic effect. The trophic effect in the combined administration group was greater than that in the single administration group. These data suggest that the trophic effect of caerulein is significant in mature pancreatic cells while that of hydrocortisone is an immature one and that an additive effect of the three drugs was observed.