Clinical Chemistries: Pancreatic Function

Question 1

What are the two types of glands the pancreas has functions for?

Answer 1

Endocrine

Exocrine

Question 2

Endocrine glands

Answer 2

uses chemical messengers to regulate organs

low concentrations of hormones have powerful effects

Question 3

What feedback loop is the most common in the Endocrine glands?

Answer 3

Negative feedback

Question 4

Exocrine glands

Answer 4

Secrete digestive enzymes into ducts

Empty into body cavities or body surface

Question 5

What are the Endocrine Function tests?

Answer 5

Glucose
Fructosamine
Glucose Tolerance
Insulin Tolerance

Question 6

What are the Exocrine Pancreatic Function tests?

Answer 6

Amylase
Lipase
Amylase and Lipase in Peritoneal Fluid
Trypsin
Serum Trypsinlike Immunoreactivity
Serum Pancreatic Lipase Immunoreactivity

Question 7

Endocrine Portion: Alpha Cells

Answer 7

Secrete glucagon

20% of cells

Question 8

Endocrine Portion: Beta Cells

Answer 8

Secrete insulin

70% of cells

Question 9

Endocrine Portion: Delta, Gamma, Epsilon

Answer 9

Other jobs

Question 10

Exocrine Portion

Answer 10

Majority of pancreas size

Secretes enzymes needed for digestion into the GI tract

Question 11

What are the digestive enzymes?

Answer 11

Trypsin
Amylase
Lipase

Question 12

Why do we run Exocrine Pancreas Test: Amylase?

Answer 12

Breaks down starches and glycogen in sugars

Question 13

Why do we run Exocrine Pancreas Test: Lipase?

Answer 13

Breaks down long-chain fatty acids of lipids

Question 14

Pancreatitis

Answer 14

High-fat diets

Can be life-threatening

Question 15

What are the symptoms in dogs?

Answer 15

Often overweight
Painful abdomen (praying position)
Anorexia 
Fever
Lethargy
Vomiting
Hemorrhagic diarrhea

Question 16

What are the symptoms in cats?

Answer 16

Maybe no vomiting
ADR
Anorexic
Weight loss

Question 17

Where does Amylase come from?

Answer 17

Pancreas
Salivary glands
Small intestine

Question 18

What is an increase in serum amylase almost always due to?

Answer 18

Pancreatitis

Question 19

What serum levels are normal in the early stage of pancreatitis?

Answer 19

Lipase

Question 20

What happens to lipase cells as pancreatitis progresses?

Answer 20

The cells are replaced with connective tissue and cannot produce lipase

Question 21

What does a higher level of amylase and lipase in the peritoneal fluid suggest?

Answer 21

Pancreatitis

Question 22

Serum Trypsinlike Immunoreactivity

Answer 22

Detects both trypsinogen and trypsin
Test only available for dogs and cats
An important indicator of pancreatic mass

Question 23

What is only produced in the pancreas?

Answer 23

Trypsinogen

Question 24

What happens when the pancreas is injured?

Answer 24

Trypsinogen is released in the extracellular space and converted to trypsin, which diffuses into the bloodstream

Question 25

Serum Pancreatic Lipase Immunoreactivity

Answer 25

SNAP tests in-house needs serum Available for dogs and cats fPLi and cPLi

Question 26

Glucagon from alpha cells

Answer 26

Raises blood glucose levels

Question 27

How does glucagon raise glucose levels?

Answer 27

By stimulating the liver to convert glycogen to glucose and by stimulating gluconeogenesis

Question 28

How does insulin from beta cells lower blood glucose levels?

Answer 28

By causing glucose, amino acids, and fatty acids to be absorbed into cells

Question 29

What stimulates the release of insulin?

Answer 29

High blood glucose

Question 30

What stimulates the release of glucagon?

Answer 30

Low blood glucose

Question 31

What regulates the secretion of insulin and glucagon?

Answer 31

Negative feedback mechanism

Question 32

What happens if the pancreas not producing enough insulin?

Answer 32

Glucose can not get into the cells so will be high in the blood

Question 33

What happens if there is too much insulin?

Answer 33

Hypoglycemia

Question 34

What is a common issue with cats that can be caused by a trip to a clinic, waiting to be seen, or having blood drawn?

Answer 34

Stress hyperglycemia

Question 35

What do you need for an accurate glucose level?

Answer 35

Need to separate plasma or serum from the red blood cells

Question 36

What happens if the plasma or serum are not separated?

Answer 36

The red blood cells continue to metabolize glucose and cause a 10% glucose drop per hour at room temperature

Question 37

What do glucagon, thyroxine, growth hormone, epinephrine, and glucocorticoids all influence?

Answer 37

Hyperglycemia | Boost blood glucose levels

Question 38

What does insulin promote?

Answer 38

Glucose influx into its target cells

Question 39

What are the normal levels of glucose?

Answer 39

80-120 mg/dL

Question 40

What happens at 250 mg/dL?

Answer 40

Glucosuria, PU/PD

Question 41

Diabetes Mellitus

Answer 41

The inability to produce or use insulin

Question 42

What are the two types of diabetes mellitus?

Answer 42

1. Insulin-dependent diabetes | 2. Non-Insulin dependent diabetes

Question 43

Insulin-dependent diabetes

Answer 43

Dogs and Cats | Require insulin injections to survive

Question 44

Non-Insulin dependent diabetes

Answer 44

Cats and very rare in dogs Some cats may have transient diabetes Diet-controlled

Question 45

What are the clinical signs of diabetes

Answer 45

PU/PD Polyphagia Hyperglycemia Glucosuria

Question 46

What are the treatments for diabetes mellitus?

Answer 46

Insulin injections | Diet changes