Effect of bilateral truncal vagotomy on pancreatic ductal permeability

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of bilateral truncal vagotomy on increase of pancreatic ductal permeability secondary to acute pancreatitis on animals.

Materials and Methods: Four groups were formed by using 22 cats. In groups SPS-SHAM and SPS-BTV, mobilization of esophagogastric junction and bilateral truncal vagotomy were performed after intraductal perfusion of standart perfusion fluid, respectively. Mobilization of esophagogastric junction and bilateral truncal vagotomy were performed after intraductal perfusion of sodium salt of 15 mM cholic acid in groups KASHAM and KA-BTV, respectively. In all groups, intraductal perfusion of 99m technetium labeled dextrane was performed. Blood samples for serum amylase and dextrane, and tissue samples were taken.

Results: There was statistically significant increase in serum amylase levels after perfusion of cholic acid (p=0,001), but bilateral truncal vagotomy had no significant effect on changes of amylase levels (p=0,430). With regard to changes from 0 to 30 minutes, pancreatic ductal permeability in group KA-BTV was significantly lower than that of in group KA-SHAM (p=0,016). There was also no difference in change of pancreatic ductal permeability from 0 to 30 minutes between group KA-BTV and both groups SPS-SHAM and SPS-BTV (p=0,136 and p=0,109, respectively). Although development of severe acute pancreatitis and severe histopathological changes on pancreatic duct may occur in some cats, it could not be possible to see inhibitory effect of bilateral truncal vagotomy on these changes in every cat.

Conclusion: The inhibitory effect of bilateral truncal vagotomy on pancreatic ductal permeability may be an important finding for understanding the role of vagus nerve on pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis, although depression of serum amylase levels and prevention of histopathological changes could not be seen in each cat.