STIMULATORY EFFECTS OF THE CENTRAL AMYGDALOID NUCLEUS ON PANCREATIC EXOCRINE SECRETION IN RATS

The effects of electrical stimulation of the central (CE) and basolate ral (BL) amygdaloid nuclei on pancreatic exocrine secretion were teste d in urethane-anesthetized rats. Electrical stimulation (0.1 mA, 1 ms, 40 Hz) of the CE significantly increased basal and hormone (secretin + cholecystokinin-8)-infused pancreatic exocrine secretion. These incr eases in pancreatic secretion were abolished by bilateral vagotomy. El ectrical stimulation of the BL had no significant effect on basal and hormone-infused secretion. We conclude that the CE plays a stimulatory role in pancreatic exocrine secretion via the vagus nerve but the BL does not affect pancreatic secretion.