Effects of diazepam on pancreatic exocrine secretion in the dog

The effects of diazepam on pancreatic exocrine secretion were investigated in the vascularly isolated and self-hemoperfused dog pancreas under constant perfusion pressure of 100 mmHg. Close-arterial injections (i.a.) of diazepam (0.3-3.0 mg) caused dose-dependent increases in the secretion of pancreatic juice and in the rate of perfusion blood flow. Protein and bicarbonate concentrations of the pancreatic juice stimulated by 3.0 mg of diazepam were significantly higher than those of the resting pancreatic juice. The secretory activity of 1.0 mg (i.a.) of diazepam was comparable to that of 0.05 units (i.a.) of secretin. These secretory and vascular responses to diazepam were not modified by pretreatments with atropine, sulpiride, cimetidine, theophylline and Ro 15-1788. These results suggest that large doses of diazepam act directly on both acinar and ductular cells of the pancreas and induce protein and bicarbonate secretions.