Key result
Galanin acutely reduces pancreatic vascular perfusion while the antagonist galantide increases it.
Why the study?
The role of galanin in the regulation of pancreatic vascular perfusion is unclear despite its vasoactive properties and the compromised pancreatic microcirculation in acute pancreatitis.
Does galanin or galantide alter blood pressure and pancreatic vascular perfusion in anesthetized possums?
Does galanin or galantide alter blood pressure and pancreatic vascular perfusion in anesthetized possums?
Galanin acutely reduces pancreatic vascular perfusion in possums, suggesting it may play an important role in regulating pancreatic microcirculation.
Hypothesis-generating in an animal model; leaves open translation to human pancreatic perfusion or therapy.
OBJECTIVES: Acute pancreatitis is associated with compromised pancreatic microcirculation. Galanin is a vasoactive neuropeptide, but its role in the regulation of pancreatic vascular perfusion (PVP) is unclear. METHODS: Localization of galanin immunoreactivity was investigated by immunohistochemistry, and the effects of bolus doses of galanin or the antagonist galantide on blood pressure (BP) and PVP (by laser Doppler fluxmetry) were determined in anesthetized possums. RESULTS: Galanin immunoreactivity was abundant in the possum pancreas particularly around blood vessels. Galanin (0.001-10 nmol) produced a dose-dependent increase in BP (to 177% of baseline) and a complex PVP response consisting of a transient increase, then a fall below baseline with recovery to above baseline. Galantide (0.003-30 nmol) caused a dose-dependent biphasic response in BP, with a reduction, recovery, then a further fall, followed by recovery, whereas PVP increased (178%) then fell (to 56%) of baseline. Similar effects were produced by continuous intravenous infusion of galanin (1 and 10 nmol) or galantide (3 and 30 nmol). The second-phase response of these agents is probably a passive response of the pancreatic vasculature to systemic cardiovascular effects. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that galanin acutely reduces PVP, whereas galantide increases it, implying galanin may be important in the regulation of PVP.
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Brooke‐Smith et al. (2008) studied Pancreatic vascular perfusion regulation. Galanin and galantide vs. Baseline was evaluated on Blood pressure (BP) and pancreatic vascular perfusion (PVP). Galanin acutely reduced pancreatic vascular perfusion, whereas the antagonist galantide increased it, suggesting galanin may be important in regulating pancreatic microcirculation.
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