Influence of the vagus nerve on release and action of secretin in dog.

Abstract

The role of the cholinergic nerve on plasma concentration of immunoreactive secretin and pancreatic bicarbonate secretion was investigated in conscious and anesthetized dogs. In conscious dogs with gastric and pancreatic fistulae, i.v. administration of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) potentiated the pancreatic bicarbonate secretion stimulated by duodenal acidification. In conscious dogs with the same preparation, i.v. administration of atropine inhibited the pancreatic bicarbonate secretions stimulated by duodenal acidification or exogenous secretin. Neither 2-DG nor atropine had any effect on endogenous release of secretin. In anesthetized dogs, pancreatic bicarbonate secretion stimulated by duodenal acidification was decreased by bilateral cervical vagotomy. Plasma secretin concentration achieved by duodenal acidification was not different from that of the pre-vagotomy state. The changes of cholinergic tone do not affect release of endogenous secretin but alter the exocrine pancreatic bicarbonate secretion stimulated by secretin.