Effect of secretin on basal- and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in man

Plasma immunoreactive secretin and insulin concentrations were measured in fasting normal humans after intraduodenal infusions of hydrochloric acid, isotonic or hypertonic glucose. The effect of intraduodenal acidification or intravenous bolus injections of secretin on plasma insulin concentrations during infusions of glucose was also examined. The intraduodenal glucose load did not cause an increase in plasma secretin concentrations. Secretin concentrations rose after acid both in the fasting state and during infusions of glucose. A concomitant rise in insulin levels was however only observed during infusions of glucose. Intravenous injection of secretin in a dose which mimicked the response to intraduodenal acidification was without effect on the glucose-stimulated insulin release, while a 30 times higher dose caused a highly significant augmentation of the insulin release. The insulin response pattern to this high dose of secretin differed completely from that observed after intraduodenal infusion of acid. It is concluded and confirmed that the stimulating effect of secretin on insulin secretion is pharmacological and that secretin plays no significant role in the entero-insular axis.