Evidence of cholecystokinin release by bombesin in the dog.

1 The intravenous infusion of bombesin elicited in the dog a contraction of the gall bladder with decreased opening pressure of the choledocho-duodenal junction and stimulation of pancreatic secretion.2 The pancreatic juice produced under the influence of bombesin was poor in bicarbonate and rich in protein. Threshold doses of the peptide were of the order of 0.25 mug kg(-1) h(-1) and maximum protein output was obtained with 1 mug kg(-1) h(-1). The pancreatic protein response to bombesin was very similar, in its onset and duration, to that elicited by intraduodenal infusion of L-tryptophan. Infusions of bombesin repeated at short intervals produced tachyphylaxis.3 Antrectomy did not affect the stimulant action of bombesin on the pancreas. Atropine however, reduced the pancreatic protein response to bombesin.4 It is suggested that bombesin acts on the gall bladder and the exocrine pancreas through release of cholecystokinin from the duodenal mucosa. No release of secretion could be demonstrated. It is likely that the releasing activity of bombesin is limited, in the field of gastrointestinal peptides, to those belonging to the gastrin-cholecystokinin family.