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To the Editor.—The authors appreciate the comments of Dr. Silen in the Archives (106:239, 1973) on our paper (105:611-614, 1972). He has conducted important studies in this area.
However, the role of pancreatic enzymes in the mechanism of the gastric hypersecretion is not as clear-cut as he implies. While Chey and Lorber (Am J Physiol 212:252, 1967) noted that the return of pancreatic juice to the duodenum caused a prompt but transient reduction in the acid secretion, pancreatic enzymes in the form of desiccated pancreas (Viokase) did not. To quote:
Our observations on the effects of Viokase on acid secretion differ from the results reported by Hein and associates (Am J Physiol 205:89, 1963) but are in agreement with the findings obtained by Greenlee et al (Arch Surg 79:1004, 1959) and Elliott and his associates (Surgery 50:126, 1961).
Moreover, they noted that the time course of the hypersecretion did not