Effects of furosemide on biliary secretion, pancreatic blood flow, and pancreatic exocrine secretion

The effects of furosemide on biliary secretion and on pancreatic hemodynamics and exocrine function were studied by quantitative flowmetry and timed collections of biliary and pancreatic exocrine secretion in the anesthetized dog. Biliary flow and the output of its components (Na+, K+, Ca, Mg, 3-OH bile salts, and bilirubin) increased significantly following a furosemide injection of 0.6 mg/kg and rose progressively to 75-150 per cent above basal levels as the furosemide dose was increased to 9.6 mg/kg. Pretreatment with secretin had no influence on furosemide-induced biliary secretion. Furosemide doses of 4.8 and 9.6 mg/kg increased blood flow in the superior pancreaticoduodenal arterial bed by 30-60 per cent but did not alter flow in the inferior pancreaticoduodenal arterial bed or the pancreatic branch of the splenic artery. However, small increases were seen in flow in the latter two arterial beds after furosemide when secretin administration preceded furosemide. Basal pancreatic secretion was not affected by furosemide, but pretreatment with a submaximal sustaining infusion of secretin uncovered a furosemide action to increase pancreatic exocrine flow and the outputs of Na+, K+, Ca, Mg, and enzymes by 25-35 per cent. These data extend previous studies of the gastrointestinal vasodilator effects of furosemide to the pancreatic circulation and previous data demonstrating furosemide-induced ionic transport in nonrenal systems to biliary, pancreatic acinar, and ductular transport in both organs. Whether the augmentation of pancreatic blood flow is secondary to enhanced ion transport in the exocrine pancreas or to an effect on ionic cotransport in vascular smooth muscle is unknown.