[The effect of atropine on the pancreas]

The literature relating to the effect of atropine on exocrine pancreatic secretion in man and animals is critically reviewed. In most species basal secretion of volume, bicarbonate, and enzyme secretion are reduced by atropine, thus indicating some neural control of basal pancreatic secretion. The literature is replete with conflicting findings on the effect of atropine on pancreatic response to exogenous hormones. In well controlled studies atropine had no effect on the action of cholecystokinin-pancreozymin (CCK) or caerulein on the pancreas. Atropine either moderately depressed or did not alter the volume and bicarbonate response to secretin but constantly reduced enzyme secretion. With respect to pancreatic response to a meal, and to intestinal instillation of aminoacids, fat or HCL, all studies agree that pancreatic secretion is depressed by atropine. The recent finding that atropine did not alter the response of a transplanted denervated pancreas to intestinal stimulants suggests that atropine acts on the pancreas by interrupting an enteropancreatic vago-vagal reflex and not by blocking the action of hormones on the pancreas or by interfering with cholinergic facilitation of gastrointestinal hormone release.