REFLUX OF DUODENAL CONTENTS INTO THE PANCREATIC DUCT OF DOGS

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 96  (5) , 912-921
Abstract
Postprandial duodenal pressure transiently exceeds pancreatic duct pressure in the dog. To determine whether this pressure gradient causes reflux from the duodenum into the pancreatic duct, five dogs were proved with a permanent pancreatodochal catheter and 3 indwelling duodenal cutaneous catheters. 14C-PEG [polyetheylene glycol] was infused through the proximal duodenal catheter; intraluminal pressures were monitored through the middle catheter at the level of the pancreatic duct orifice; and 15 cm aborad, duodenal contents were recovered from the third catheter. Fifteen min. pooled samples were collected 1 h preprandially and 2 h postprandially from the pancreatic duct and duodenum and were analyzed for volume, lipase activity and marker concentration. Reflux of duodenal contents occurred only in 10.8% of fasting periods but was observed in 38% of postpradial periods (P < 0.05). The total volume of duodenal content refluxed per 15 min approximated 0.1 ml and represented between 0.5% and 1% of total pancreatic volume flow and between 0.05% and 0.07% of total duodenal volume flow. Small amounts of duodenal contents may reflux into the pancreatic duct of dogs in the experimental model. This finding may be relevant to the pathogenesis of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.