Humoral influences on local blood flow and external secretion of the resting dog pancreas

Abstract

Graded doses of glucagon (2--8 microgram/kg b. w.), prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) (125--1000 ng/kg b. w.), caerulein (1--32 ng/kg b. w.) and a synthetic C-terminal octapeptide of cholecystokinin-pancreozymin (CCK--PZ) 50--400 ng/kg b. w.) were infused into the superior pancreatioduodenal artery in chloralose-anaesthetized dogs to study the effect on blood flow and external secretion of the resting pancreas. Local blood flow was measured by a heated thermocouple inserted into pancreatic tissue supplied by the superior pancreaticoduodenal artery. Blood flow through this artery was measured by electromagnetic flowmeter. Juice was collected from the cannulated main pancreatic duct. Each of the four agents significantly increased pancreatic blood flow. There was a linear correlation between the doses and the blood flow responses. Caerulein and the synthetic C-terminal octapeptide of CCK--PZ increased the amount of secreted juice from the resting pancreas. The C-terminal octapeptide of CCK--PZ elevated the protein concentration of the secreted juice in proportion to the dose. Glucagon and PGE1 did not influence the amount of secreted juice from the resting gland.