[Comparative effects of pentagastrin and caerulein on the insulin secretion in the anesthesized dog]

The insulin-secretory effect of pentagastrin (5-G) and caerulein (CRL) was studied comparatively in the anesthesized dog. Both peptides, infused into the femoral vein for 30 minutes in doses of 0.20 microng/kg/min and 0.035 microng/kg/min respectively, caused a significant increase in plasma IRI without simultaneously modifying blood glucose. The insulin-secretory activity is however transitory for both, being a little more prolonged for CRL. On a molar basis the latter is almost 50 times more active than 5-G. The mechanism of the beta-cytotropic action of CRL and the different behaviour of the two peptides is discussed.