NEUROHORMONAL CONTROL OF THE EXOCRINE PANCREAS

This review updates the progress made in the mechanism of neurohormona l regulation of the exocrine pancreas. Two different cholecystokinin-r eleasing peptides were found, one from rat intestinal perfusate compos ed of 70 to 75 amino-acid residues and another from porcine intestinal mucosa that was identical to porcine diazepam binding inhibitor(1-86) . A secretin-releasing peptide in rat intestinal perfusate and three l uminal releasing peptides have also been identified. In addition, a se cretin-releasing peptide was found in canine pancreatic juice and had 100% homology with canine pancreatic phospholipase A(2). The release a nd action of these peptides from proximal intestine are regulated by t he autonomic nervous system, submucosal, and enteric nervous system. F unctional-morphologic evidence of enteropancreatic reflex was provided , and a sensitizing effect of ethanol on pancreatic acinar cells led t o increased zymogen conversion in response to cholecystokinin. The lat ter observation may turn out to be an important first step in the path ogenesis of alcohol-associated pancreatitis.