Effect of jejunal nutrition on pancreatic exocrine secretion in pancreatitis rats and the involvement of the nucleus tractus solitarius

Jejunal nutrition is currently used as a fundamental therapeutic measure for acute pancreatitis. Its impact on pancreatic exocrine secretion (PES) is still on dispute. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of jejunal nutrition on PES and illuminate whether NTS is involved in the regulation of PES. Firstly, we established experimental acute cutaneous pancreatitis (ACP) and acute necrotic pancreatitis (ANP) rat models, and measured the volume and protein levels of pancreatic fluid in normal and pancreatitis rats, and found that pancreatitis rats had a significantly lower pancreatic fluid volume and protein level than the normal rats. Then, we gave 0.3 mol/l maltose and 3% saline as jejunal nutrition were given to the two groups, respectively, and found that the jejunal nutrition did not increase the PES levels in both groups. In addition, we analyzed c-Fos expression in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS), and found c-Fos expression in NTS was stronger in rats who were given the jejunal nutrition than in those who were not. These findings suggest that jejunal nutrition excites vagal afferent nerve fibers at pancreatitis rats, and the excitation can be transmitted to medulla oblongata, but do not induce changes in PES. It is likely that the central integration mechanism, pathway of vagal efferent nerve or status of effector in acute pancratitis may be different from normal physiological conditions.