The Absorption of Vitamin B₁₂ after Subtotal Pancreatectomy in the Rat

Abstract

von der Lippe, Gerhard. The absorption of vitamin B12 after subtotal pancreatectomy in the rat. Scand. J. Gastroent. 1976, 11, 683-688

Subtotal pancreatectomy in the rat was performed by a new method. Except for a small remnant along the splenal hilus, the gland was completely removed. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency was confirmed by fat and nitrogen malabsorption. A moderate diabetes mellitus was seen. Insulin substitution or diet restriction was unnecessary. The absorption of vitamin B12 after oral administration of 10 ng ⁵⁷CoB₁₂ was 5.0 ±0.2 (ng ⁵⁷CoB₁₂ ± S.E.M.) in unoperated rats and 5.1 ±0.1 in pancreatectomized rats (p>0.5). Pancreatic extract (PE) (100 mg) increased the absorption of ⁵⁷CoB₁₂ in unoperated rats (p<0.01), but not in pancreatectomized rats (p>0.2). PE (300 mg) reduced the absorption in unoperated rats (p<0.01). The results indicate that an optimal amount of pancreatic secretion may stimulate the absorption of vitamin B₁₂.

Key-words::

• Diabetes mellitus
• intestinal absorption
• intrinsic factor
• pancreatectomy
• pancreatic juice
• vitamin B₁₂
• vitamin B₁₂ deficiency