Release of peptide YY (PYY) after resection of small bowel, colon, or pancreas in man

To investigate the possible role of peptide YY (PYY) in the adaptive changes that accompany enterectomy, plasma levels of this peptide were measured during breakfast in patients with resected small or large intestines and in controls. In 18 patients who had undergone partial ileal resection, basal PYY concentrations were greatly elevated when compared with controls (51.4 ± 8.7 pmol/L versus 10.3 ± 1.0; p < 0.001) and the postprandial response was similarly increased. In contrast, PYY concentrations were low in 16 patients who had undergone colonie resection and ileostomy (fasting 7.1 ± 0.7 pmol/L, p < 0.01). In eight patients who had undergone pancreatectomies, basal and postprandial PYY levels were moderately increased (23.4 ± 3.5 pmol/L; fasting p < 0.001). PYY does not appear to have a role in the adaptive trophic response after small intestinal resection, but it may contribute to reduction of gastric secretion and gastrointestinal transit in these patients.