Adrenergic pathways do not mediate peptide YY-induced inhibition of pancreatic exocrine secretion

The influence of extrapancreatic nerves and intrapancreatic adrenergic activity on the inhibition of pancreatic exocrine secretion by peptide YY (PYY) was studied in conscious dogs. Chronic pancreatic fistulae were created in five mongrel dogs while a second group of five dogs also underwent complete pancreatic denervation. After recovery, a continuous infusion of secretin (62 ng/kg/h) and cholecystokinin (CCK; 50 ng/kg/h) was administered over 2 h. An infusion of PYY (400 pmol/kg/h) was then given randomly, during either the first or second experimental hour. The experiments were then replicated after establishing adrenergic blockade with continuous background infusions of either phentolamine (0.2 mg/kg/h), propranolol (0.5 mg/kg bolus) or a combination of phentolamine and propranolol. The secretin/cholecystokinin-induced bicarbonate and protein outputs were significantly inhibited by PYY in both the innervated and denervated animals. Adrenergic blockade failed to eliminate the inhibitory effects of PYY. We conclude that extrapancreatic neural pathways, including adrenergic mechanisms, do not mediate the inhibitory effects of PYY. The results suggest that PYY inhibits secretin/cholecystokinin-induced pancreatic response by an indirect nonadrenergic mechanism.