Acute rise of pancreatic polypeptide after electroconvulsive therapy

Plasma pancreatic polypeptide concentrations rise by 320 +/- 81 per cent following administration of electroconvulsive therapy. This rise is observed in the first ten minutes despite premedication of patients with 0.6 mg atropine. Pancreatic polypeptide release is dependent on cholinergic tone and is very sensitive to atropine. The dramatic rise in pancreative polypeptide observed following electroconvulsive therapy probably results from vagal stimulation and reflects insufficient atropine premedication.