• The objective of this study was to determine whether bombesin can stimulate pancreatic exocrine secretion and release of cholecystokinin-33 and gastrin in pigs. Bombesin (1 μg/kg-hr) was infused intravenously in six conscious piglets for one hour, and pancreatic secretions, plasma, and serum were collected. Cholecystokinin-33 and gastrin were measured by specific radioimmunoassays. Pancreatic secretory volume increased from a basal value of 1.5±0.5 mL/15 min to 10.4±1.7 mL/15 min. Pancreatic protein output increased from basal values of 7.9±2.4 mg/15 min to 88.9±25.4 mg/15 min. Plasma cholecystokinin-33 increased significantly from a basal concentration of 130±40 pg/mL to 275±100 pg/mL, as did gastrin (40.7 pg/mL to 200±27 pg/mL). Our findings demonstrated that bombesin stimulates exocrine pancreatic secretion in pigs; we conclude that this stimulation is due largely to the release of cholecystokinin.
(Arch Surg 1984;119:825-828)