Pancreatic polypeptide release stimulated by food, secretin and cholecystokinin in chronic pancreatitis.

The pancreatic polypeptide (PP) release after a standard meal and the PP release and the pancreatic secretion of bicarbonate and amylase after stimulation by secretin GIH, 1 CU kg-1 intravenously, and by cholecystokinin (CCK), 1 Ivy dog unit kg-1 intravenously, have been investigated in 10 patients with chronic pancreatitis. Significant correlations were found between the integrated PP responses after food and hormonal stimulation (p less than 0.05), between the integrated PP response and the peak serum PP concentration after food (p less than 0.01) and after secretin/CCK (p less than 0.01), and between the peak serum PP concentrations obtained after food, secretin, and CCK (p less than 0.01). The pancreatic outputs of bicarbonate and amylase and the peak amylase concentration after hormonal stimulation were significantly correlated (p less than 0.01), but no significant correlation was found between any one of these variables of exocrine pancreatic function and the PP release. It is concluded that, in chronic pancreatitis, food, secretin, and CCK stimulate PP release similarly and that no correlation can be established between the PP release and the exocrine pancreatic secretion.