Pure pancreatic juice in humans: orange-lemon-juice-induced secretory effects. Comparative analysis with a regular meal, sorbitol, acidified peptone broth and secretin.

The secretory effect elicited by the ingestion of 100 ml of orange-lemon juice (O.-L.J.) was studied on pure pancreatic juice obtained from a catheter placed in the human Wirsung duct at surgery. These changes were compared with those evoked by a regular meal (R.M.), the ingestion of a Sorbitol solution (S.S.), the intragastric infusion of an acidified peptone broth (A.P.B.) and an i.v. single injection of secretin (Boots, 1.0 U/kg). The O.-L.J. induced purer pancreatic secretion response (flow, bicarbonate and enzyme output) than that triggered by the R.M., S.S. and A.P.B. The O.-L.J. evoked peak values, were observed earlier (60 min) than with a R.M. (90 min) ingestion. The 120-min-cumulative values confirmed these findings and disclosed that O.-L.J. elicits a rate of secretion and bicarbonate output closely similar to that of an i.v. secretin injection and amylase response greater than that evoked by this hormone. Thus, O.-L.J. ingestion proved to be an unexpected powerful stimulus of exocrine pancreatic secretion.