Altered insulin and glucagon secretion in perfused ethionine-treated rat pancreases

The endocrine secretory function of rat pancreases in which pancreatitis had been induced by feeding rats a 0.5% ethionine diet was investigated. Despite loss of 50% of exocrine tissue and widespread destruction of acinar structure, pancreatic insulin and glucagon contents and 4-h fasting plasma insulin levels in vivo did not differ significantly from those of food-restricted, weight-matched controls. Plasma glucose concentrations (fasting and after oral glucose) were significantly lower than control. In isolated, perfused ethionine-treated pancreases secretin failed to stimulate insulin secretion, whereas basal insulin secretion and insulin responses to glucose, arginine, gastric inhibitory polypeptide, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and somatostatin were similar to those of controls. Basal glucagon secretion was elevated in ethionine-treated pancreases, and glucagon outputs in response to arginine, VIP, and somatostatin showed a consistent trend toward higher levels than those of controls. These findings demonstrate that ethionine-induced pancreatitis selectively impairs islet secretory function. These effects may be due to damage to islet cell membranes by exocrine enzymes and/or a direct pathogenic action of ethionine on the islets.