Effect of alcohol on the release of secretin and pancreatic secretion.

The effect of alcohol on the release of secretin was studied in man by radioimmunoassay, and in dogs and cats by radioimmunoassay and bioassay (secretion of water and bicarbonate by the pancreas). In man plasma secretin levels increased significantly from a basal of 121 +/- 14 to 164 +/- 24 pg/ml at 60 minutes after oral ingestion of alcohol. Intraduodenal administration of alcohol in man, dogs, and cats did not release secretin or affect pancreatic water and bicarbonate secretion in dogs and cats, but a moderate increase in pancreatic protein output was observed in these two species. Plasma gastrin levels rose significantly from a basal of 52 +/- 4 to 64 +/- 3 pg/ml after ingestion of alcohol in man and from 33 +/- 5 to 51 +/- 8 pg/ml after administration of alcohol into the stomach of dogs. Administration of alcohol into the duodenum in man, dogs, and cats did not release gastrin. We conclude that alcohol probably does not release secretin directly. The mechanism of release of secretin in man is unknown; it clearly involves the stomach and may be mediated via the release of gastric acid.