Influence of hypercalcemia on ionized calcium concentration in pancreatic juice of the dog.

Calcium concentration of pancreatic juice depends on secretion of calcium bound to enzymatic proteins or calcium diffusion from interstitial fluids. To evaluate the relative magnitude of these pathways, we studied the influence of hypercalcemia on ionized calcium (Ca++) in dog pancreatic juice. Pancreatic juice was collected during basal secretion and during stimulation by secretin or secretin plus caerulein in control conditions and under CaCl2 infusion. [Ca++] was measured by selective electrodes. Saturation of juice in CaCO3 was calculated. In stimulated juice, total calcium concentration ([CaT]) and [Ca++] were unchanged by hypercalcemia. In basal juice, composition was profoundly modified by hypercalcemia because [CaT] (3.31 +/- 0.89 mmol/L vs 1.80 +/- 0.44 for controls), [Ca++] (1.44 +/- 0.37 mmol/L vs 0.84 +/- 0.24 mmol/L for controls), and the index of saturation in CaCO3 (5.2 +/- 2.4 vs 2.9 +/- 1.8 for controls) increased significantly. Protein concentration was unchanged. This suggests that in basal conditions, the relationship between plasma and juice calcium levels is due to passive interstitial Ca++ diffusion through the pancreatic ducts. In accordance with the hypothesis of a restricted calcium diffusion, the effects of hypercalcemia were flow rate dependent, being less pronounced when basal flow rate increased. It is concluded that, in the dog, the calcium species found in stimulated juice result from a redistribution of calcium secreted along with proteins, whereas at low secretion rate, juice calcium level depends mainly on interstitial Ca++ diffusion into the main pancreatic ducts.