The Role of the Pancreas in Vitamin B₁₂ Absorption: Studies of Vitamin B₁₂ Absorption in Partially Pancreatectomized Rats

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Abstract

The effect of partial pancreatectomy (80-90%) on vitamin B12 absorption was studied in the rat. The absorption of 5 ng of 57Co-labeled vitamin B12 was significantly reduced from 70 ±2.5% (mean ±SE) in control and sham-operated rats to 32 ±2.6% in partially pancreatectomized rats. Hog pancreatic extract (0.17 g/kg) improved vitamin B12 absorption from 30.0 to 61.0% in partially pancreatectomized rats but did not alter vitamin B12 absorption in control rats. Chloramphenicol did not enhance vitamin B12 absorption in partially pancreatectomized rats with pancreatic extract-improved vitamin B12 malabsorption. The partially pancreatectomized rats with pancreatic extract-improved vitamin B12 malabsorption were sacrificed and the stomach and small bowel studied in vitro to further define the pathogenesis of the vitamin B12 malabsorption. Rat gastric intrinsic factor stimulated vitamin B12 uptake by intestinal sacs prepared from partially pancreatectomized rats 3.1-fold. Gastric intrinsic factor prepared from partially pancreatectomized rats was as effective in promoting vitamin B12 uptake by rat intestinal sacs as intrinsic factor prepared from control rats. These data indicate that partially pancreatectomized rats develop an abnormality in the absorption of labeled vitamin B12 which can be corrected by pancreatic extract. The vitamin B12 malabsorption is due to neither an alteration in gastric intrinsic factor activity nor an impairment of the intrinsic factor-vitamin B12 receptor in the intestine. It is suggested that in the partially pancreatectomized rats the intrinsic factor-vitamin B12 complex exists in a form which is not available for absorption.

Authors

Philip P. Toskes, Julius J. Deren