Discovery of a cholecystokinin analogue with partial agonist activity.

In dispersed acini from guinea pig pancreas, cholecystokinin-(27-32)-amide [CCK-(27-32)-NH2] did not stimulate amylase secretion and inhibited the stimulation caused by CCK-(26-33). In dispersed acini from mouse or rat pancreas, CCK-(27-32)-NH2 stimulated amylase secretion. The stimulation of amylase secretion caused by a maximally effective concentration of CCK-(27-32)-NH2 was less than that caused by a maximally effective concentration of cholecystokinin-(26-33), and in contrast to the action of cholecystokinin-(26-33) supramaximal concentrations of CCK-(27-32)-NH2 did not cause submaximal stimulation of amylase secretion. Dibutyryl cGMP and proglumide each inhibited the stimulation of amylase secretion caused by CCK-(27-32)-NH2. CCK-(27-32)-NH2 inhibited binding of 125I-labeled CCK to mouse and rat pancreatic acini. These results indicate that, in mouse and rat pancreatic acini, CCK-(27-32)-NH2 is a partial agonist and that this partial agonist activity is produced by occupation of the CCK receptor by CCK-(27-32)-NH2.