Effect of secretin and caerulein on the absorption of water, electrolytes and glucose from the jejunum of dogs.

The effects of secretin and caerulein on the absorption of water, sodium, potassium and glucose from the jejunum of dogs were investigated. Intravenous infusion of 1 clinical unit (CU; 82 pmol/kg/h) of secretin inhibited jejunal absorption of water, sodium and glucose compared to control period. Adding an intravenous infusion of 0.4 micrograms (300 pmol)/kg/h of caerulein to the infusion of secretin, the jejunal absorption rates of water, sodium and glucose were restored to control values. Intravenous infusions of 0.2 and 0.4 micrograms/kg/h of caerulein induced no significant difference in the absorption compared to control. Thus it seems that secretin inhibits the absorption of water, sodium and glucose from the jejunum of dogs and caerulein, added to secretin, reverses the effect of secretin.