Involvement of endogenous prostaglandins in pancreatic endocrine and exocrine secretion in dog pancreas

The involvement of endogenous prostaglandins (PGs) in pancreatic endocrine and exocrine secretion was investigated, using the isolated and perfused dog pancreas. Spontaneous production of both PGE2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha was recorded in venous effluent. Prostaglandin production increased following stimulation with both 10 x 10(-11) and 20 x 10(-11) mol of CCK-8, but was not affected by a 5 x 10(-11) mol infusion. Insulin, glucagon, and amylase release was stimulated by 10 x 10(-11) mol of CCK-8. Indomethacin pretreatment with 10 mg/kg totally abolished endogenous PG production, but failed to suppress an insulin and glucagon response. On the other hand, an amylase response was accelerated by indomethacin pretreatment. Although low dose CCK-8 failed to stimulate endogenous prostaglandin production, a brisk exocrine secretion was not suppressed by indomethacin pretreatment. From the above results, we conclude that endogenous PGs do not appear to play an important role in pancreatic endocrine and exocrine secretion, but might have a cytoprotective effect on the pancreatic acinar cells damaged by CCK-8.