• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.401-408
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• 1989

This study was conducted to investigate whether an electrical stimulation of medial amygdaloid nucleus in rats increases pancreatic secretion. And an involvement of vagus nerve or plasma secretin in this process was also studied. In fasting rats anesthetized with urethane, a monopolar stainless steel electrode was stereotaxically inserted into the right medial amygdaloid nucleus. Pancreatic juice was collected for 20 minutes, during which physiological saline or 0.01 N HCI (0.18 ml/min) was perfused into the duodenum with or without bilateral subdiaphragmatic vagotomy. In the medial amygdaloid group, an electrical stimulation was continuously applied to the medial amygdaloid nucleus during the perfusion period. After collection of pancreatic juice, blood was drawn from the abdominal aorta for determination of the plasma secretin level. The results were as follows: 1) The electrical stimulaion of the medial amygdaloid nucleus did not influence the pancreatic secretion in response to intraduodenal saline perfusion. 2) The stimulation of the medial amygdaloid nucleus significantly increased the pancreatic secretory response (volume, bicarbonate output) to the intraduodenal 0.01 N HCI perfusion, and the increases were abolished by vagotomy. 3) The plasma secretin concentration after the intraduodenal 0.01 N HCI perfusion was higher than that after the saline perfusion. However, neither the electrical stimulation of the medial amygdaloid nucleus nor vagotomy affected the plasma secretin concentration during the intraduodenal perfusion with saline or 0.01 N HCI. It is, therefore, suggested that the medial amygdaloid nucleus facilitates the pancreatic secretion (volume, bicarbonate) elicited by intraduodenal HCI perfusion through the vagus nerve.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.163-171
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• 2020

Silibinin exhibits antidiabetic potential by preserving the mass and function of pancreatic β-cells through up-regulation of estrogen receptor-α (ERα) expression. However, the underlying protective mechanism of silibinin in pancreatic β-cells is still unclear. In the current study, we sought to determine whether ERα acts as the target of silibinin for the modulation of antioxidative response in pancreatic β-cells under high glucose and high fat conditions. Our in vivo study revealed that a 4-week oral administration of silibinin (100 mg/kg/day) decreased fasting blood glucose with a concurrent increase in levels of serum insulin in high-fat diet/streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetic rats. Moreover, expression of ERα, NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in pancreatic β-cells in pancreatic islets was increased by silibinin treatment. Accordingly, silibinin (10 μM) elevated viability, insulin biosynthesis, and insulin secretion of high glucose/palmitate-treated INS-1 cells accompanied by increased expression of ERα, Nrf2, and HO-1 as well as decreased reactive oxygen species production in vitro. Treatment using an ERα antagonist (MPP) in INS-1 cells or silencing ERα expression in INS-1 and NIT-1 cells with siRNA abolished the protective effects of silibinin. Our study suggests that silibinin activates the Nrf2-antioxidative pathways in pancreatic β-cells through regulation of ERα expression.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.7321-7324
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• 2013

Objective: To estimate the incidence and mortality rates for pancreatic cancer in China. Methods: After checking and reviewing the cancer registry data in 2009 from 72 cancer registry centers, we divided cancer registry areas into urban and rural areas. Incidence/mortality rates, age-specific incidence/mortality rates, age-standardized incidence/mortality rates, proportions, and cumulative incidence/mortality rates for pancreatic cancer were calculated. Results: The total number of newly diagnosed pancreatic cancer cases and deaths in 2009 were 6,220 and 5,650, respectively. The crude incidence rate in all cancer registry areas was 7.28/100,000 (males 8.24, females 6.29). The age-standardized incidence rate by Chinese standard population (ASR) was 3.35/100,000, with ranking at 7th among all cancers. Pancreatic cancer incidence rate was 8.19/100,000 in urban areas whereas it was 5.41/100 000 in rural areas. Cancer mortality rate in all cancer registry areas was 6.61/100,000 (males 7.45; females 5.75), with ranking at 6th among all cancers, and 7.42/100 000 in urban but 4.94/100000 in rural areas. Conclusions: Pancreatic cancer incidence and mortality rates have shown a gradual increase in China. Owing to the difficulty of early diagnosis, identification of high-risk population and modification of risk factors are important to reduce the burden of pancreatic cancer.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.311-317
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• 2002

This study was performed to investigate the pancreatic exocrine dysfunction in streptozotocin- induced diabetic rats. Changes in pancreatic enzymes secretion and in pancreatic enzymes content were observed. The output and the tissue content of amylase were significantly reduced in diabetic rats, while the output and the content of lipase were increased. Plasma secretin and cholecystokinin (CCK) concentrations of diabetic rats were significantly increased compared to those of normal rats. The altered pancreatic exocrine function was abolished by the exogenous insulin administration. The exogenous insulin also restored the increased plasma secretin and CCK concentrations. From the above results, it is suggested that, in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, anticoordinated changes in pancreatic enzymes secretion as well as pancreatic enzymes content are attributable to insulin deficiency and that the insulin deficiency is responsible for the increased plasma concentrations of both secretin and CCK. However, it is not clear whether the elevated plasma secretin and CCK concentrations played a direct role in changes of pancreatic exocrine function.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.53-58
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• 2011

Activity-guided isolation from an ethylacetate-soluble fraction of a 70% (v/v) ethanolic extract from the roots of Taraxacum ohwianum, using a pancreatic lipase inhibition assay, resulted in isolation and identification of five phenolic metabolites of previously known structure; these were 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, chicoric acid, caffeic acid, protocatechuic aldehyde, and luteolin. All structures were confirmed by NMR and MS scpectroscopic data. Of these compounds 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid exhibited the most potent inhibitory activity, with $IC_{50}$ of $65.1{\pm}0.7\;{\mu}M$ against pancreatic lipase.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.841-847
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• 2005

The objective of this experiment was to investigate the development of gastrointestinal tract and activities of pancreatic enzymes in White Roman geese. Thirty developing embryos at the 22th, 24th and 26th day of incubation and at hatching, and sixteen or eight goslings, half males and half females, at the 1, 3, 7 or 11, 14, 21 and 28 days of age were sampled, respectively. The weights of the yolk, gastrointestinal tract and intestinal length, and the activities of pancreatic enzymes were measured. Residual yolk weight decreased rapidly during late incubation and was nearly depleted at 3 days of age. The protein and energy contents in the residual yolk of goslings at 3 days of age were significantly (p<0.05) less than those at the late incubation. From 6 days before hatching to 28 days of age, the absolute weights of gizzard, proventriculus, liver, pancreas, small intestine and large intestine in goslings increased by 48, 457, 94, 2334, 89 and 76 times, respectively. The relative weights of proventriculus, gizzard, liver, pancreas, small intestine and large intestine reached peaks at 3, 3, 14, 14, 11 and 11 days of age, respectively, and then decreased gradually. However, the relative lengths of small intestine and large intestine reached peaks at 3 days of age and at hatching, respectively. The activities of pancreatic trypsin and chymotrypsin increased sharply from hatching to 14 day of age, and then decreased gradually until 21 days of age. The activity and specific activity of pancreatic amylase were increased following by age and peaked at 7 to 11 and 21 days of age, respectively. The activity and specific activity of pancreatic lipase reached a plateau from 11 to 28 days of age. These results indicate that the gastrointestinal tract and activities of pancreatic enzymes developed more rapidly than body weight through the early growing period of goslings.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.711-719
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• 2000

The characteristics of the exocrine pancreatic secretions in pigs and its hormonal regulation as influenced by dietary lipids are reviewed. There is clear evidence that the secretion of lipolytic enzymes is positively correlated with the amount of fat consumed by the pig. For example, there was an increase in the specific lipase activity by 83% after the dietary fat content was increased from 5% to 25%. Moreover, it was shown that also the quality of fat has an influence on exocrine pancreatic secretions. Peroxidized canola oil stimulated total lipase secretion much more than non-peroxidized oil. The influence of fatty acid composition on exocrine pancreatic secretions is discussed equivocally. Some authors showed that saturated fats stimulated the exocrine pancreatic secretions more than unsaturated. Others showed that the chain length of fatty acids had a strong influence on pancreatic secretions as well. Due to the different surgical methods used for sampling of pancreatic juice and wide variety of fats and oils used in these studies, direct comparisons between studies are extremely difficult to make. Plasma levels of hormones such as cholecystokinin (CCK), neurotensin (NT) and peptide YY (PYY) are influenced by the nutrient composition of the diet. With increasing amounts of fat present in the small intestine, the release of these hormones was stimulated. There is evidence that CCK release is dependent on the chain length of the fatty acids. Medium chain triglycerides stimulated the CCK release more than long chain triglycerides. Neurotensin was released more by unsaturated than by saturated fatty acids; similar results were observed for the PYY release. However, results are contradictory and further investigations are warranted that focus on the underlying mechanisms involved in the regulatory response of the exocrine pancreas to lipids of different origin.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.3763-3766
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• 2012

Background: Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is a key enzyme in the metabolism of folate, and the role of the MTHFR C677T polymorphism in pancreatic carcinogenesis is still controversial. Methods: A literature search was performed using Pubmed and CNKI databases for published studies through May 2012. We performed a meta-analysis of all relevant case-control studies that examined the association between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and pancreatic cancer risk. Results: Finally, 9 individual case-control studies with a total of 1,299 pancreatic cancer cases and 2,473 controls were included into this meta-analysis. Results: This metaanalysis showed there was an obvious association between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and pancreatic cancer risk in East Asians (for allele model, OR = 1.67, 95%CI 1.11-2.51; For homozygote model, OR = 2.77, 95%CI 1.40-5.48; for recessive model, OR = 1.96, 95%CI 1.54-2.50; for dominant model, OR = 2.11, 95%CI 1.01-4.41). However, no significant association was found in Caucasians. Conclusions: The MTHFR C677T polymorphism is associated with pancreatic cancer risk, and a race-specific effect may exist in this association. More studies with a larger sample size are needed to further clarify this association.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.4261-4265
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• 2013

Increasing scientific evidence suggests that ribonucleotide reductase M1 (RRM1) may be a powerful predictor of survival in patients with pancreatic cancer treated with adjuvant gemcitabine-based chemotherapy after operative resection, but many existing studies have yielded inconclusive results. This meta-analysis aimed to assess the prognostic role of RRM1 in predicting survival in patients with pancreatic cancer treated with gemcitabine. An extensive literature search for relevant studies was conducted on PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and CBM databases from their inception through May 1st, 2013. This meta-analysis was performed using the STATA 12.0 software and crude hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Eight clinical studies were included in this meta-analysis with a total of 665 pancreatic cancer patients treated with adjuvant gemcitabine-based chemotherapy, including 373 patients in the high RRM1 expression group and 292 patients in the low RRM1 expression group. Our meta-analysis revealed that high RRM1 expression was associated with improved overall survival (OS) of pancreatic cancer patients (HR=1.56, 95%CI=0.95-2.17, P<0.001). High RRM1 expression also was linked to longer disease-free survival (DFS) than low RRM1 expression (HR=1.37, 95%CI=0.25-2.48, P=0.016). In conclusion, our meta-analysis suggests that high RRM1 expression may be associated with improved OS and DFS of pancreatic cancer patients treated with adjuvant gemcitabine-based chemotherapy. Detection of RRM1 expression may be a promising biomarker for gemcitabine response and prognosis in pancreatic cancer patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.4487-4490
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• 2016

Background: Methylation at cg 16941656 of FRY is exclusively found in normal pancreatic tissue and has been proven to be specific for pancreatic-in-origin among several adenocarcinomas. Here, we investigated methylated DNA in the bile as a biomarker to differentiate the cause of obstruction between pancreatic cancer and benign causes. Materials and Methods: Bile samples of 45 patients with obstructive jaundice who underwent ERCP were collected and classified into pancreatic cancer (group 1) and benign causes (group 2) in 24 and 21 patients, respectively. DNA was extracted from bile and bisulfite modification was performed. After, methylation in cg 16941656 of FRY was identified by real-time PCR, with beta-actin used as a positive control. Results: Methylated DNA was identified in 10/24 (41.67%) and 1/21 (4.8%) of cases in groups 1 and 2, respectively (P= 0.012). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value to differentiate pancreatic cancer from benign causes were 42%, 95%, 91%, and 59%, respectively. Conclusions: Detecting a methylation at cg 16941656 of FRY in bile has high specificity, with an acceptable positive likelihood rate, and may therefore be helpful in distinguish pancreatic cancer from benign strictures.