Effect of proglumide on rat pancreatic growth

Proglumide, a glutaramic acid derivative, is a specific competitive inhibitor of gastrin and cholecystokinin (CCK) receptors. As such, it blocks gastrin-stimulated acid secretion, the trophic effect of gastrin, and CCK-stimulated smooth muscle contraction and acinar cell secretion. In the current study we have demonstrated that proglumide (100 mg/kg three times per day) blocks the trophic effect of a low dose of CCK octapeptide (300 ng/kg) given three times a day for 2 days. The same dose of proglumide when given alone for 6 days, however, resulted in a significant stimulation of pancreatic growth. Proglumide had no effect on the trophic response to a high dose of CCK-OP (5 micrograms/kg) administered for either 2 or 6 days. These results indicate that given over a period of several days proglumide behaves like a partial agonist of pancreatic growth.