Effects of human pancreatic polypeptide on exocrine pancreatic function in conscious rats

The effect of newly synthesized human pancreatic polypeptide (hPP) on pancreatic secretion stimulated by a diversion of bile-pancreatic juice (BPJ) from the intestine, and plasma hPP concentration were examined in conscious rats. Exogenous hPP infusion (1, 10 micrograms/kg/hr) inhibited pancreatic protein, bicarbonate and fluid outputs during BPJ diversion in a dose-dependent manner. During 1 and 10 micrograms/kg/hr hPP infusion plasma hPP immunoreactivity increased to 369 +/- 22.9 and 1,125 +/- 90.2 pg/ml, respectively. These results suggest that newly synthesized hPP has an inhibitory activity on exocrine function of the pancreas.