Effect of gastrin on the exocrine pancreas. A review.

Studies in animals demonstrate a gastric hormonal phase of pancreatic exocrine secretion. Endogenous or exogenous gastrin causes a marked elevation in the pancreatic enzymes and a lesser increase in the pancreatic volume and bicarbonate. It is possible that these "gastrin" effects may be the basis of a "cephalic" phase of pancreatic secretion. These observations have been only partially confirmed in human subjects with and without the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. The physiologic importance of these ecbolic actions as well as a possible trophic effect remains to be elucidated.