Dose-response effects of atropine on pancreatic response to secretin before and after truncal vagotomy

Abstract

In dogs with gastric and pancreatic fistulas, we studied the effect of intravenous atropine in doses ranging from 0.9 to 58 nmol X kg-1 X h-1 on the pancreatic secretory response to secretin before and after truncal vagotomy. Truncal vagotomy did not alter the incremental bicarbonate response to secretin. Before and after truncal vagotomy, 7 nmol X kg-1 X h-1 and all higher doses of atropine sulfate significantly decreased the bicarbonate response to low doses (5.2 and 10.3 pmol X kg-1 X h-1) of secretin but had no significant effect on responses to high doses (20.5 and 41 pmol X kg-1 X h-1). The inhibitory potency of the effective doses of atropine did not differ significantly. Secretin did not stimulate pancreatic protein output above basal. Truncal vagotomy reduced protein output basally and during secretin by about 50%. Before and after truncal vagotomy, 7 nmol X kg-1 X h-1 and all higher doses of atropine significantly decreased protein output basally and during secretin. Secretin and truncal vagotomy did not alter basal heart rate. Only the three highest doses (14, 29, and 58 nmol X kg-1 X h-1) of atropine significantly increased heart rate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)