[Intravenous glucose tolerance test in the functional exploration of segmental pancreatic autografts in the dog]. / L'épreuve d'hyperglycémie provoquée par voie intraveineuses dans l'exploration fonctionnelle de l'autogreffe pancréatique segmentaire chez le chien.

The aim of the present study is based on the comparison of intravenous tolerance testing before and after segmental pancreas autotransplantation in the dog. The results show that such testing must take in account the "glucose diffusion space", using the same glucose load in order to avoid the bias related to the post-operative loss of body weight.

[Functional and morphological study of the pancreatic graft after segmental heterotopic autotransplantation in dogs]. / Etude fonctionnelle et morphologique du greffon pancréatique après autotransplantation segmentaire hétérotopique chez le chien.

Segmentary heterotopic autotransplantation of the body and tail of the pancreas, with visceral exocrine drivation and splenosplenic arterio-venous fistulation, was performed in 12 Beagle dogs. An in vivo glucose tolerance test was conducted before the transplantation and 21 days after the operation. There was a significant decrease in the k coefficient (2.884 +/- 0.234 before and 1.878 +/- 0.128 after transplantation) due to reduced peripheral glucose uptake after transplantation (p < 0.001). Overall glucose-stimulated insulin production was decreased after < 0.001). Two populations were identified retrospectively: in 7 dogs insulin response was satisfactory after transplantation (insulin production > or = 50% pretransplantation level) and in 5 the response was below 50%. Glucose tolerance was tested in vitro in the isolated perfused pancreas transplant in 9 dogs, 30 days after the transplantation. Secretory response was assessed according to the early peak of insulin secretion after glucose stimulation. The patterns of insulin secretion were not different before glucose stimulation but became statistically different after stimulation (p < 0.001). In 5 dogs, the response to in vitro glucose stimulation showed an early peak in insulin secretion and in 4 dogs the insulin response came late with no early peak. On histological examination normal (or subnormal) pancreas grafts and grafts in which extensive sclerosis impaired function could be distinguished. There was a significant correlation between the quality of function and the histology, suggesting that containing post-operative sclerosis to a minimum is an important factor in human transplantations.

[Surgical imperatives in pancreatic transplantation in dogs]. / Impératifs chirurgicaux de la transplantation pancréatique chez le chien.

The authors report their experience of segmental pancreatic autotransplantation in dogs. The most reliable model seems to be: segmental heterotopic pancreas transplantation with bladder diversion of the exocrine secretion and spleno-splenic arterio-venous fistula allowing monitoring of the exocrine secretion and a reduction in the thrombosis rate.