Characteristics of inhibition of pancreatic secretion by the beta-adrenergic agonist, terbutaline.

This study was performed to characterize the inhibitory effects of terbutaline on pancreatic secretion. In experiments with pancreatic fistula dogs, intravenously administered terbutaline significantly reduced pancreatic juice volume, bicarbonate concentration, bicarbonate output, and protein output evoked by secretin or the octapeptide of cholecystokinin but had no effect on protein concentration. Subcutaneously administered terbutaline significantly reduced meal-stimulated pancreatic juice volume, bicarbonate concentration, bicarbonate output, and protein output and increased protein concentration in a dose-related manner. In other experiments, terbutaline had no effect on amylase release from dispersed guinea pig pancreatic acini. These observations suggest that the primary effect of terbutaline on the in vivo exocrine pancreas is inhibition of water and bicarbonate secretion; reduced output of pancreatic protein may be secondary to decreased flow of pancreatic juice.