Effects of nicardipine on pancreatic exocrine secretion in the dog

1. The effects of nicardipine on the secretion of pancreatic juice were investigated in dog isolated, blood-perfused pancreas, and compared with those of papaverine, aminophylline and secretin. 2. Intra-arterial administration of nicardipine (1-10 micrograms) elicited a dose-dependent increase in pancreatic secretion. Papaverine (0.1-1 mg), aminophylline (0.3-3 mg) and secretin (0.03-0.1 units) also elicited increased secretion. The secretory activity of nicardipine (10 micrograms) was approximately equal to that of 0.5 mg of papaverine, 1.5 mg of aminophylline and 0.03 units of secretin. 3. The concentration of bicarbonate in the pancreatic juice induced by nicardipine was increased, but the protein concentration was only increased slightly. These effects are analogous to those of secretin. 4. Nicardipine-induced secretion was not modified by pretreatment with relatively large doses of phentolamine, propranolol, atropine, guanethidine, haloperidol or metiamide. 5. Secretin-induced secretion was significantly potentiated by infusion of papaverine, but not by infusion of nicardipine or aminophylline. 6. These results suggest that nicardipine acts on the exocrine cells in the dog pancreas, at least in part, through the increase of intracellular cyclic AMP concentration by inhibiting phosphodiesterase activity.