REVIEW The Mediators of Bile Action on the Exocrine Pancreas*

In a recent review (1) evidence was presented that intraduo-denally applied bile and certain bile salts dose-dependently increase basal and hormonally stimulated hydrokinetic and ecbolic pancreatic function in man and animals. In con-trast, bile and bile salts have no effect or even reduce pan-creatic secretion stimulated by intraduodenal nutrient compounds. Moreover, species differences, particularly with regard to the rat, have been discussed. A direct action of bile salts on the pancreas via the cir-culation is very unlikely, since the effects of bile salts occur immediately after intraduodenal application. Bile salts, how-ever, are physiologically absorbed in the terminal ileum. Therefore, hormones and/or neural mechanisms must be assumed to be mediators. HORMONAL MEDIATOR