Effects of cocaine on rat pancreatic enzyme secretion and protein synthesis.

The effects of cocaine on amylase secretion and total protein synthesis was studied by use of vitro rat pancreatic tissue. In vitro, cocaine (2 or 10 mM) did not modify basal release of amylase; at a concentration of 2 mM, it reduced the secretory response to pancreozymin by 32% and that to urecholine by 68%. Incorporation of amino acids into total proteins was decreased by 15% by cocaine 2 mM and by 49.5% at 10 mM. Administered in vivo at a dose of 15 mg/kg intraperitoneally, cocaine was associated with decreased in protein synthesis 30, 90, and 180 min after its injection. These results indicate that cocaine can affect basic functions of the exocrine pancreas and reduce its response to secretagogues.