Effect of intraduodenal sodium bicarbonate in rat and rabbit exocrine pancreatic secretion.

The effect of intraduodenal sodium bicarbonate, 0.1 M, on exocrine pancreatic secretion and the release of two peptides, secretin and VIP, was studied in anesthetized rats and rabbits, two species largely used in the gastroenterology laboratories. In the rabbit, intraduodenal sodium bicarbonate perfusion had no effect either on exocrine pancreatic secretion or on portal plasma levels of secretin and VIP. By contrast, in the rat, intraduodenal sodium bicarbonate perfusion significantly increased hydroelectrolyte exocrine pancreatic secretion and portal plasma secretin levels. A clear interspecific difference reflecting the different gastrointestinal physiology of both species is observed.