Stimulatory action of (beta-Asp9) ceruletide on dog pancreatic exocrine secretion

The synthetic analog of ceruletide, (beta-Asp9) ceruletide, which in previous studies was found to retain some central effects of ceruletide with virtually no effect on gallbladder contraction, was studied for its stimulatory effect on pancreatic secretion. This peptide was shown to induce an increase in the volume of pancreatic juice similar to that provoked by the parent compound. Its activity was 4% of that of ceruletide, as regards volume, dry residue and protein content of the pancreatic juice. It was concluded that the dissociation between central and peripheral effects concerned only the gallbladder contractility, since its potency as a pancreatic stimulant was of the same order of magnitude as that shown on the central nervous system.