Micropuncture study of pancreatic electrolyte secretion

Abstract

The techniques of renal micropuncture were adapted and applied to the study of pancreatic electrolyte secretion in the in vivo rabbit pancreas. Samples of pancreatic juice were collected from ductules of the extra-lobular collecting system 58 to more than 400 [mu] in diameter. These were analyzed for bicarbonate and chloride concentrations, and compared with simultaneously collected main duct juice. Under freeflow conditions, 1 out of 19 samples demonstrated a significant difference in bicarbonate concentration (P < .01). There were no significant differences in chloride concentration. When samples obtained from ducts in which flow had been blocked up to 1 min. were compared with free-flowing juice from the same ducts, no difference in chloride concentration was found. There was no evidence that the ducts of the extralobular collecting system play an active role in the secretion of bicarbonate or chloride in this preparation.