Mechanism of pancreatic hypersecretion in dogs with obstructive jaundice.

Pancreatic exocrine function in experimental obstructive jaundice was examined using dogs. Outputs of pancreatic juice, bicarbonate and amylase were greater in dogs with obstructive jaundice than in control dogs. To further examine the hypersecretory mechanism in obstructive jaundice, we examined pancreatic exocrine secretion stimulated by secretin and pancreozymin in both the isolated perfused pancreas and pancreatic dispersed cell culture. The perfused pancreas stimulated with secretin and pancreozymin in dogs with obstructive jaundice showed higher secretion of volume, bicarbonate and amylase than in control dogs. Dispersed pancreatic cells of jaundiced dogs stimulated by secretin and pancreozymin released more bicarbonate and amylase into the media than dispersed cells of control dogs. These data suggest pancreatic hypersecretion in obstructive jaundice is not due to excessive serum levels of secretin and pancreozymin or impaired metabolism of these hormones.