Pancreatic enzyme secretion: nonspecific stimulation by duodenal mucosal extracts

Felber et al. (Lancet 2: 185-188, 1974) reported that duodenal extracts obtained from rats fed a given meal induced the specific secretion of related pancreatic enzymes. Such an observation challenges the generally accepted theory of parallel secretion of pancreatic enzymes. Although these experiments were faithfully reproduced, no induction of specific enzyme secretion could be obtained. Moreover, comparison of the secretagogue potency of different preparations of duodenal extract, both in vivo (anesthetized rat) and in vitro (pancreatic lobules), demonstrated that in the original extraction procedure most of the secretagogue activity was lost. Finally, even the fully active extract failed to induce specific enzyme secretion. It is therefore unlikely that duodenal extracts from rats fed a specific meal can induce selective secretion of the related enzyme.