Pancreatic, gallbladder, and gastric responses to intraduodenal calcium perfusion in man.

To determine the effect of intraduodenal calcium on pancreatic, gallbladder, and gastric functions in healthy man, a validated perfusion method was employed to quantify total pancreatic, biliary, and gastric outputs during duodenal perfusion of either 6 mM, 12 mM,or 25 mM of elemental calcium (as isotonic calcium chloride solutions). Intraluminal calcium stimulated pancreatic enzyme secretion and gallbladder contraction in a dose-related fashion, achieving comparable responses to those produced by intravenous cholecystokinin-pancreozymin (CCK-z). Responses to calcium were reproducible when repeated in the same individual. Gastric acid outputs and serum gastrin levels increased significantly only with higher calcium perfusions (25 mM). Although duodenal calcium perfusion (25 mM) slightly increased serum calcium concentrations, induced hypercalcemia (by intravenous calcium infusion) of similar magnitude had no effect on pancreatic or gallbladder function. It is suggested that intraduodenal calcium may induce release of CCK-PZ (and/or other neurohormonal factors) from the gut, causing stimulation of these digestive organs.