Action of amino acids on stomach, pancreas, and gallbladder in dogs.

An intravenous infusion of a 3% solution of amino acids was given to 8 dogs, all with Heidenhain pouches and gastric fistulae. Four of these had duodenal cannulae opposite the pancreatic and 4 opposite the biliary ampulla. The usual basal 100 min spontaneous peaking of pancreatic juice volume and protein secretion was seen but peaks were abolished by the amino acid infusion and troughs were slightly elevated, but the total 90 min volume protein and bicarbonate outputs were not different from control. Gastric acid and pepsin secretions were augmented reaching a peak during the first hour with a subsequent decline. The 90 min acid and pepsin output was significantly higher than control. The gallbladder contracted during the first hour and remained thus until the infusion was terminated. This happened even when the duodenum was kept alkaline, but was abolished by ganglionic blockade. During intravenous amino acid infusion the patterns of gallbladder activity and pancreatic secretion resembled those of the post cibal rather than fasting state.