AJP - Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology, Vol 240, Issue 2 109-G113, Copyright © 1981 by American Physiological Society
Pancreatic enzyme secretion: nonspecific stimulation by duodenal mucosal extracts
A. La Bella, R. G. Lahaie, H. Sarles and J. C. Dagorn
Felber et al. (Lancet 2: 185-188, 1974) reported that duodenal extracts
obtained from rats fed a given meal induced the specific secretion of
related pancreatic enzymes. Such an observation challenges the generally
accepted theory of parallel secretion of pancreatic enzymes. Although these
experiments were faithfully reproduced, no induction of specific enzyme
secretion could be obtained. Moreover, comparison of the secretagogue
potency of different preparations of duodenal extract, both in vivo
(anesthetized rat) and in vitro (pancreatic lobules), demonstrated that in
the original extraction procedure most of the secretagogue activity was
lost. Finally, even the fully active extract failed to induce specific
enzyme secretion. It is therefore unlikely that duodenal extracts from rats
fed a specific meal can induce selective secretion of the related enzyme.
