[A new model for the in vitro study of the entero-island of Langerhans axis]. / Un nuovo modello per lo studio in vitro dell'asse entro-insula re.

A new in vitro pancreas-intestine model which makes it possible to study the physiopathology of the intero-insular axis in greater depth, as it eliminates interference from other system, is proposed. The model, which is composed of the rat pancreas, duodenum and the first 25 cm of the small intestine, conserves both the circulation and the in vivo anatomical reltionship intact. Experiments were designed to evaluate the effect of a drug-induced disaccharidase-activity block on insulin secretion. The results obtained confirm the validity of the proposed model in investigating the entero-insular axis.