Exocrine pancreatic secretion in suckling goats. Adaptative effects of maternal milk and a milk substitute.

Suckling goats were fed ad libitum during the first month of their life by goat milk or by a milk replacer. These diets differed in the amount of fat and the type of protein. The composition of the exocrine pancreatic secretion in the basal period and in response to food were compared in both conditions. Pancreatic juice was collected one hour before meal intake up to the 8th postprandial hour. Pancreatic flow rate, bicarbonate and chloride levels, total protein and enzyme activities were measured. In resting conditions and in response to food, the lipase activity was found to be significantly lower in the group fed with milk replacer, which was poorer in fat. These results indicate an adaptation of the enzyme output to the available quantity of its substrate, similar to that described in the rat. Postprandial differences in the pancreatic flow rate, electrolytes and total protein were found between both groups. Their origin can be attributed to the protein used (soyabean) in the milk substitute. Such soya protein alters the normal clot formation in the abomasum and allows an accelerated abomasal digesta outflow and duodenal pH alkalinisation.