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Updated: Jun 19, 2026
09:52
Assessing the Secretory Capacity of Pancreatic Acinar Cells
Published on: August 28, 2014
Suppressive effect of secretin upon pancreatic alpha cell function.
The Journal of Clinical Investigation
|July 1, 1972
Summary
Secretin effectively suppresses pancreatic glucagon secretion, especially during hyperglycemia. This hormone may play a key physiological role in modulating glucose metabolism and islet cell responses.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Gastroenterology
- Metabolic Research
Background:
- Glucagon is a key hormone regulating blood glucose levels.
- Secretin, a gastrointestinal hormone, has potential roles in glucose homeostasis.
- Understanding secretin's effect on glucagon is crucial for metabolic research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of exogenous and endogenous secretin on pancreatic glucagon secretion in dogs.
- To determine if secretin's glucagon-suppressing effects are insulin-dependent.
Main Methods:
- Infusion of purified secretin into conscious mongrel dogs.
- Induction of hyperglycemia via glucose infusion.
- Stimulation of endogenous secretin release using intraduodenal HCl.
- Administration of secretin to alloxan-diabetic dogs.
Main Results:
- Exogenous secretin significantly reduced pancreatic glucagon levels, particularly during hyperglycemia.
- HCl-stimulated endogenous secretin also suppressed glucagon secretion.
- Secretin lowered glucagon levels in alloxan-diabetic dogs, suggesting insulin independence.
Conclusions:
- Exogenous secretin is a potent suppressor of glucagon secretion.
- Endogenous secretin also plays a role in suppressing glucagon.
- Secretin may have a physiological role in modifying islet cell response to glucose and managing hyperglucagonemia.
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