Effect of bombesin and its mammalian counterpart, GRP, on exocrine pancreas in the rat.

The effect of equimolar doses (6 nmol/kg) of bombesin and its mammalian counterpart, GRP, on pancreatic growth and secretion was studied in adult rats. Both peptides were administered intraperitoneally three times a day for 5 consecutive days. Saline-treated rats were used as controls. At the end of the treatment, animals were anaesthetized and pancreatic juice was collected in basal conditions and after caerulein (0.75 nmol/kg i.p.) stimulation. Afterwards, the rats were sacrificed and growth and composition of the pancreatic tissue were determined. Compared with the control (saline) values, either basal or stimulated secretion was significantly increased after short-term treatment with both peptides. In addition, both bombesin and GRP increased pancreatic weight, total pancreatic protein, trypsin and amylase content. The DNA content was also increased by both peptides, although only the GRP effect proved to be significant. These results demonstrate that both bombesin and GRP have a growth-promoting effect on rat pancreas and concomitantly increase its secretory capacity. The mechanism of this peculiar biological action is likely to be connected with a direct stimulatory action on the gland.