The endocrine peptide YY (PYY) inhibits pancreatic secretion in animals and in man through indirect pathways. Neuropeptide Y (NPY), whose chemical structure is very close, displays similar effects. Recently, sigma ligands were shown to produce in vivo several neural pharmacologic effects that seemed indistinguishable from those of NPY. This might occur by interaction with the same (or closely related) receptors or by activation of a common final pathway. The purpose of the present work was to test whether PYY, NPY, and sigma agonists also display closely related activities on pancreatic secretion. The sigma ligands (+)-N-allyl normetazocine (d-NANM) and di(ortho-tolyl) guanidine (DTG) were used. Pancreatic secretion was stimulated by the centrally acting agent 2-deoxyglucose (2DG) in anesthetized rats. The rats were also administered either an infusion of peptide (PYY: 25-250 pmol/kg/h, NPY: 75-750 pmol/kg/h), continued for 2 h, or a bolus injection of d-NANM (3 mg/kg) or DTG (1 mg/kg). In antagonist experiments, the dopamine and sigma antagonist haloperidol (1 mg/kg, i.v.), the adrenoceptor antagonists idazoxan (0.3 mg/kg, s.c.), prazosin (0.5 mg/kg, s.c.), propranolol (1 mg/kg, s.c.) and the opiate receptor antagonist naloxone (1 mg/kg, s.c.) were injected, 5 min before the peptide infusion had begun. Neither PYY nor NPY changed basal pancreatic secretion. PYY and NPY produced a dose-related inhibition of 2DG-stimulated pancreatic secretion. The observed inhibition after 250 pmol/kg/h of PYY was volume, 78% (p < 0.01); bicarbonate, 84% (p < 0.01); protein, 78% (p < 0.01); whereas the physiologically relevant dose of 25 pmol/kg/h induced approximately 30% inhibition of these variables.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)