Histaminergic modulation of hormonal control in the exocrine guinea-pig pancreas.

The effects of histamine upon secretin- or cholecystokinin (CCK)-evoked exocrine pancreatic secretion were investigated in the anaesthetised guinea pig. Histamine (0.1 mumol/kg/min) induced a slight increase in pancreatic juice flow and total protein release compared to saline controls. Secretin (0.5 pmol/kg/min) and CCK-8 (0.75 pmol/kg/min) evoked marked time course increases in both the rate of pancreatic juice flow and total protein output in the anaesthetised guinea pig. Administration of either secretin or CCK-8 simultaneously with histamine elevated the exocrine pancreatic secretion compared to the smaller response obtained when administered separately. These results indicate that histamine may play an important physiological role in modulating the hormonal control of exocrine guinea pig pancreas.