Effect of pancreatic polypeptide on gallbladder pressure and hepatic bile secretion

Intraluminal gallbladder pressure, measured by radiotelemetry, and bile output were monitored during infusion of porcine pancreatic polypeptide (PP) at doses of 6, 25, 100, and 400 pmol . kg-1 . h-1 in healthy conscious pigs. Plasma PP concentrations during infusion of the three lower doses, measured by radioimmunoassay, were within the range seen postprandially in these animals. Gallbladder pressure fell in a dose-related manner during PP infusion by 2.2 +/- 0.9, 8.2 +/- 0.4, 11.6 +/- 0.7, and 14.8 +/- 0.8 mmHg, respectively. In addition, a significant reduction in the bile output was observed during infusion of the two higher doses of PP. In a separate series of experiments, using cholecystectomized pigs, PP had no effect on bile output. These findings suggest that the amount of PP released postprandially may be sufficient to influence gallbladder function but not hepatic secretion of bile in the pig.