Role of Pancreas in Endogenous Zinc Excretion in the Bovine

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Abstract
Zinc and 65Zn metabolism, from a single intravenous tracer dose, were studied in Holstein bull calves in groups: a) control, no surgery; b) pancreatic duct cannulation with total collection of pancreatic secretion; c) pancreatic duct ligation; and d) sham surgery. Total 7-day fecal 65Zn excretion was: control, 10.1; cannulated, 7.2; ligated, 8.0; and sham, 9.3% of the dose. Pancreatic duct cannulation and ligation reduced endogenous fecal 65Zn excretion by 29 and 21%. For a longer time period the percentage would be lower. Total pancreatic juice 65Zn secretion for 7 days was 2.2% (23% of total endogenous loss) of the dose. The largest amount (0.84%) was on day I with a peak rate at 2 to 3 hours. These results indicate that zinc excretion via the pancreas contributes about one-fourth or less of the total endogenous loss in calves and thus is not the predominant route. Zinc and 65Zn content were not affected in most tissues. However, cannulation increased pancreas and kidney 65Zn and kidney stable zinc. Ligation caused some pancreatic degeneration.