Effect of hydrocortisone on pancreatic growth in rats

Abstract

This study was undertaken to determine the effects of hydrocortisone on pancreatic size and composition in suckling, recently weaned, growing, and adult rats. The data demonstrate that hydrocortisone 1) is associated with hyperplasia and hypertrophy of the pancreas in suckling rats, 2) suppressed DNA synthesis in recently weaned rats, but maintained the hypertrphic effect, 3) increased protein and pancreatic hydrolase concentrations in growing and adult rats, and 4) preferentially promoted synthesis of amylase over chymotrypsin only during the suckling period. These experiments suggest that growth of the pancreas may be partly under control of glucocorticoids only during the suckling period, whereas hypertrophy of the pancreatic tissue can be obtained at all ages by these hormones.

Influence of Hydrocortisone on the Development of the Gastric Mucosa in Suckling Rats

“…Loss of body weight in preweaned rats has been previously reported under glu cocorticoid treatment [7,23]. Since hydro cortisone is able to produce hypertrophy of the pancreas during the suckling period [11,23], we wished to ascertain the effects of hydrocortisone on the stomach, using an in ternal control. Indeed, the pancreas was the only digestive organ for which we found an absolute weight augmentation in hydrocorti sone-treated rats as compared with controls.…”

“…In the present work, we used hydrocorti sone acetate which is similar in activity to corticosterone but is longer acting [9], Three different doses of hydrocortisone were stud ied, two pharmacological and one which has been previously considered to be in a physi ological range [10][11][12], It should be pointed out that the highest dose of hydrocortisone was used only in order to check whether it would increase the antral gastrin content in suckling rats as previously reported with such high doses [8]. Hydrocortisone-treated rats gained weight during treatment, how ever, their body weight was lesser than that of their saline counterparts at the end of treatment.…”

“…Pups received at 9 a.m. one single daily injection of either hydrocortisone acetate at a dose of 5 mg/kg considered by others to be physiological [10][11][12] or of saline from day 7 to day 12, as in the first series.…”

“…We sought particularly (a) to verify whether the gastrin increase in an tral tissue which could be induced under glu cocorticoid treatment was indeed obtained, and (b), if this modification existed, to ana lyze whether or not it was related to an increase in antral gastrin cell population. Two pharmacological doses, lower than that reported to increase antral tissue gastrin level [8], and one dose considered to be in the physiological range [10][11][12] were used.…”

Glucocorticoid Receptor Concentration Modulates Glucocorticoid-Regulated Gene Expression in Rat Pancreatic AR42J Cells

“…RNA and protein content as well as increased digestive enzyme con centration [1,2]. The enhanced secretory function and increased synthesis of secretory proteins by glucocorticoids in the fetal pancreas are morphologically reflected by an increase in number and size of secretory granules and the amount of rough endoplasmatic reticulum [3], In the adult animal glucocorticoids stimulate pancreatic growth which is characterized by pronounced hyperplasia and hypertro phy of the acinar and ductal cells [4], In addition, glucocor ticoids regulate digestive enzyme gene expression in the adult exocrine pancreas as indicated, for example, by an increase in amylase, trypsin and chymotrvpsin and a decrease in kallikrein gene expression [5][6][7][8],…”