Effects of atropine on the action and release of secretin in humans.

Using two groups of volunteers, we investigated the effects of atropine on pancreatic secretion of bicarbonate, protein, and trypsin stimulated by secretin. Secretin given intravenously in graded doses of 0.03, 0.06, and 0.125 clinical units.kg-1.h-1 produced significant increases in pancreatic secretion of bicarbonate in a dose-related manner. Pancreatic secretion of bicarbonate and protein was significantly suppressed by intravenous atropine, despite the dose of secretin infused. Intrajejunal perfusion of HCl at a rate of 3.3 mM/h, producing plasma secretin concentration comparable with that of the postprandial state, resulted in significant increases in the pancreatic secretion of bicarbonate. The increase in the pancreatic secretion of bicarbonate and trypsin was significantly suppressed by atropine. However, atropine did not affect the increase in the plasma secretin concentration produced by jejunal acidification or intravenous secretin. These studies indicate that atropine inhibits the pancreatic effect but not the intestinal release of secretin.