Does human bile stimulate the exocrine pancreas?

The exocrine pancreatic secretion of water and bicarbonate was studied by endoscopic cannulation of the main pancreatic duct. Intraduodenal infusions of human bile with high concentrations of bile acids were followed by increases in flow rate and bicarbonate secretion in three cases. When bile with low concentrations of bile acids was infused into the duodenum in two cases, no obvious change was found. The study indicates that bile may play a role in the regulation of the exocrine pancreatic secretion of water and bicarbonate in man.