Dose-related effect of bombesin on serum cationic trypsinogen levels.

Abstract

The present study has been addressed to study the serum cationic trypsinogen (CT) response after the ingestion of a mixed meal and following the infusion of caerulein and bombesin. On the first day of study a mixed meal was administered to 12 normal volunteers. On the following day 6 of these subjects received bombesin infusion in stepwise increasing doses (18.7, 37.5, 75 and 150 pM/kg/h) every 30 min, while the remaining 6 subjects received caerulein infusion (18, 37, 75 and 150 ng/kg/h). The time course of the serum CT response to bombesin (150 pM/kg/h) was also studied in 6 patients with distal gastrectomy. Serum CT levels did not vary after the ingestion of the meal or the infusion of caerulein. Bombesin infusion was followed by a dose-related increase on serum CT levels, but it had no effect on serum amylase and isoamylases. The CT concentrations peaked 30 min after starting the infusion and remained unchanged as long as bombesin was administered. It is suggested that the bombesin action on the pancreatic acinar cells may be direct and not mediated through cholecystokinin or gastrin release.