Neural mechanisms of pancreatic polypeptide release in conscious dogs

L364,718, a potent and specific antagonist for peripheral cholecystokinin (CCK) receptors, was used to determine its effect on plasma levels of pancreatic polypeptide (PP) after administration of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG, a central vagal activator) and of bethanechol (a cholinergic receptor agonist). Six conscious dogs were used in this study. Intravenous injection of 2-DG (75 mg/kg) caused significant increases in plasma levels of PP and gastrin, but there was no significant rise in plasma levels of immunoreactive and bioactive CCK. Intravenous injection of L364,718 (20 nmol/kg) significantly inhibited the PP response stimulated by 2-DG injection by approximately 60% but did not affect gastrin. Plasma levels of PP were increased dose dependently by bethanechol infusion and were not altered significantly by injections of L364,718. The results indicate that L364,718 inhibits PP response stimulated by a central vagal activator (2-DG) but not by cholinergic receptor agonist (bethanechol). This study suggests that CCK might be involved in the neural control of PP release as a neurotransmitter but probably not as a final activator of PP cells in dogs.