The effect of vasoactive intestinal peptide, secretin, and glucagon on human duodenal bicarbonate secretion

Duodenal luminal acidification increases duodenal mucosal bicarbonate production and also releases both secretin and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). The effect of these two structurally similar peptides on human duodenal bicarbonate production has not been examined in humans. Our purpose was therefore to assess the effect of VIP and secretin and also glucagon, a homologous hormone, on human duodenal bicarbonate secretion. A 4-cm portion of either proximal or distal duodenum was isolated and perfused with iso-osmolar NaCl. Pure porcine VIP (200 and 400 pmol/kg-h intravenously) significantly increased proximal duodenal bicarbonate secretion. Although secretin (0.01 to 0.18 CU/kg-h intravenously) markedly increased pancreatic bicarbonate secretion, it failed to alter duodenal mucosal bicarbonate output in either the proximal or the distal duodenum. Glucagon (1 to 8 micrograms/kg-h intravenously) did not affect proximal duodenal mucosal bicarbonate output. It is concluded that VIP, but neither secretin nor glucagon, significantly stimulates human duodenal mucosal bicarbonate secretion.