The role of the exocrine pancreas in the stimulation of insulin secretion by intestinal hormones

Summary The effect of the intestinal hormones secretin, pancreozymin, gastrin-pentapeptide and of glucagon upon insulin secretion of rat isolated pancreatic islets were studied. Only pancreozymin and glucagon were found to stimulate insulin release from the isolated islets, pancreozymin without and glucagon only in presence of glucose in the medium. The effect of pancreozymin was repeatedly shown by using the same islets in a dynamic perifusion system. The studies imply classification of the insulin stimulating actions of the intestinal hormones according to dependence upon and independence of the presence of intact exocrine pancreatic tissue. Supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Bad Godesberg (Pf 38/24).