[Diagnostic significance of the secretin provocation test in Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Analysis of 21 consecutive positive secretin test (author's transl)].
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Secretin receptors in membranes from the neuroblastoma-glioma hybrid cell line NG108-15 were investigated by 125I-secretin binding and adenylate cyclase activation. On both parameters the corresponding relative potencies of parent peptides were, respectively: secretin greater than helodermin greater than peptide histidine isoleucinamide = vasoactive intestinal peptide. With secretin analogs and secretin fragments, the order of potency for binding was: secretin = [Val5]secretin greater than [Ala2]secretin = [Ala11]secretin greater than [Ala4, Val5] secretin greater than [Ala4]secretin greater than [D-Phe4] secretin greater than [D-Phe2]secretin = secretin (2-27) greater than secretin (3-27) greater than secretin (7-27). Also, on adenylate cyclase, [D-Phe4]secretin, [D-Phe2]secretin, secretin (2-27) and secretin (3-27) were partial agonists while secretin (7-27) was ineffective. The differentiating agent N6,2'-O-dibutyryladenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (1 mM) increased the density of secretin receptors and secretin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity after a lag period of 4 h. After incubation for 24 h, receptor number and enzyme activity were increased 4- and 3-fold, respectively. These effects were inhibited totally by 1 microgram/ml cycloheximide and halved by 5 micrograms/ml actinomycin D. They were mimicked by 1 mM sodium butyrate but were not reproduced by either 8-bromoadenosine 3',5'-monophosphate or the phosphodiesterase inhibitor rac-4-(3-Butoxy-4-methoxybenzyl)-2-imidazolidinone.
Secretin and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) receptors are closely related G protein-coupled receptors in a recently described family possessing a large amino-terminal ectodomain. We postulated that this domain might be critical for agonist recognition and therefore constructed a series of six chimeric receptors, exchanging the amino terminus, the first extracellular loop, or both in secretin and VIP receptors. Constructs were expressed in COS cells and characterized by cAMP generation and binding of both secretin and VIP radio-ligands. Wild type receptors demonstrated high affinity binding of respective ligands (IC50 values (in nM): at the secretin receptor: 2.2 for secretin, > 1000 for VIP; at the VIP receptor: 2.2 for VIP, > 1000 for secretin) and appropriately sensitive and selective biological responses (EC50 values (in nM): at the secretin receptor: 1.5 for secretin, 127 for VIP; at the VIP receptor: 1.0 for VIP, 273 for secretin). Replacement of the secretin receptor amino terminus with that of the VIP receptor resulted in biological responsiveness typical of the VIP receptor (EC50 = 120 nM for secretin, 1.7 nM for VIP). The converse was not true, with this domain of the secretin receptor not able to provide the same response when incorporated into the VIP receptor (EC50 = 50 nM for VIP, 30 nM for secretin). The addition of both the first loop and the amino terminus of the secretin receptor was effective in yielding a secretin receptor-like response (EC50 = 2.0 nM for secretin, 47 nM for VIP). All chimeric constructs expressing selectivity for secretin-stimulated activity bound this hormone with high affinity (IC50 = 0.2-2.2 nM); however, there was divergence between VIP binding and biological activity. Thus, the amino terminus of secretin and VIP receptors plays a key role in agonist recognition and responsiveness, with the first loop playing a critical complementary role for the secretin receptor.
A new radioimmunoassay for secretin was used to investigate (a) serum secretin responses to intraduodenally infused HCl and glucose, (b) the metabolic half-life and the volume of distribution of exogenous secretin and (c) the effect of endogenously released secretin on insulin secretion in 25 anesthetized dogs. Portal and femoral venous blood samples were taken simultaneously before, during, and after intraduodenal infusion of HCl (21 meq/30 min) and glucose (131 ml/30 min). Control experiments were performed with intraduodenal infusion of saline. Mean portal venous immunoreactive secretin concentration of six dogs rose from 313 muU/ml before to 1,060 muU/ml 10 min after initiation of the intestinal acidification (P < 0.005). Femoral venous immunoreactive secretin concentration rose from 220 muU/ml before to 567 muU/ml 15 min after intestinal acidification (P < 0.01). Secretin concentrations remained elevated during the remainder of the infusion. In the same six dogs mean portal venous immunoreactive insulin concentration rose from 38 muU/ml before to 62 muU/ml at the end of the infusion (P < 0.05). Peripheral immunoreactive insulin, glucose, and free fatty acid concentrations, however, did not change significantly. Pancreatic exocrine function was studied in four dogs. The rise in secretin concentration was followed promptly by a highly significant increase in exocrine pancreatic flow rate and bicarbonate secretion, indicating biological activity of the circulating immunoreactive secretin. The effect of intraduodenal infusion of glucose on immunoreactive secretin concentration was studied in 12 dogs. Glucose in concentrations ranging from 2.5% to 10% had no detectable influence on portal or peripheral secretin concentration. Infusion of 50% glucose caused a slight decline in secretin concentration. The metabolic clearance rate, half-life of disappearance, and volume of distribution of exogenous secretin was studied in three dogs by the constant infusion technic. The metabolic clearance rate was 730+/-34 ml/min, volume of distribution was 17.4+/-0.8% of body weight, and the half-life of disappearance was 2.8+/-0.1 min. It could be calculated that 1.38 U/kg-h(-1) of endogenous secretin was released into the peripheral circulation during the steady state period of the HCl infusion experiments. The data indicated that immunoreactive secretin was released rapidly after intestinal acidification, continued to be secreted throughout the duration of HCl infusion, and was promptly distributed in the extracellular compartment. Furthermore, they suggested that endogenously released secretin could stimulate insulin secretion. The HCl-mediated insulinogenic effect of immunoreactive secretin, however, was too weak to influence peripheral immunoreactive insulin, glucose, and free fatty acid concentrations. The failure of intraduodenal glucose to stimulate secretin release suggests that secretin is not the insulin-stimulatory factor released from the gastrointestinal tract in response to glucose.
Secretin and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), but not glucagon, stimulate accumulation of cyclic AMP in dispersed guinea pig pancreatic acinar cells. Secretin stimulated cellular accumulation of cyclic AMP by interacting with a single class of high affinity receptors. On the other hand, the dose-response curve for VIP-stimulated cellular cyclic AMP was biphasic and reflected interaction of this peptide with two classes of receptors. Results obtained with synthetic fragments of VIP and secretin indicate that the receptor having a high affinity for VIP has a low affinity for secretin, interacts with, but does not distinguish among, secretin, secretin 5-27 and [6-tyrosine] secretin or among secretin 14-27, VIP 14-28, VIP 15-28, and increases cellular cyclic AMP when occupied by VIP, but not when occupied by secretin, [6-tyrosine] secretin, or secretin 1-14. The receptor having a low affinity for VIP has a high affinity for secretin, interacts with and distinguishes among secretin, secretin 5-27, and [6-tyrosine] secretin, interacts with secretin 14-27 but not with VIP 14-28 or VIP 15-28, and increases cellular cyclic AMP when occupied by VIP, secretin, [6-tyrosine] secretin, or secretin 1-14.
Secretin, substance P, and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) were studied from the immunological point of view using synthetic hormones and their related peptides which were prepared by the conventional method for peptide synthesis. Immunological properties of these hormones were characterized by radioimmunoassays specific to the respective hormones. Antisecretin antisera (NCC-R-1 and R-801) were generated in rabbits with synthetic porcine secretin absorbed on polyvinylpyrrolidone. Antiserum to substance P (R-400) was produced in a rabbit with synthetic substance P-human alpha-globulin conjugate. Generation of anti-VIP antiserum (R-502) was carried out by immunizing rabbits with synthetic VIP absorbed on polyvinylpyrrolidone. Synthetic polypeptides related to the three hormones that were examined in this study include secretin(4-27), secretin(5-27), secretin(7-27), secretin(11-27), secretin(14-27), secretin(18-27), secretin(1-22)amide, secretin(7-22)amide, Nalpha-tyrosyl-secretin, [1-Tyr]secretin, [4-Ala]secretin, [4-D-Ala]secretin, [4-Ala,5-Val]secretin, [6-Tyr]secretin, substance P(2-11), substance P (3-11), substance P(4-11), substance P(5-11), substance P(6-11), Nalpha-tyrosyl-substance P, [1-Tyr]substance P, [8-Tyr]substance P, [11-Leu]substance P, des-11-Met-substance P, VIP(7-28), VIP(11-28), VIP(18-28), VIP(1-18)amide, and VIP(1-22)AMIDE. The results revealed two antigenic regions at the amino- and carboxylterminal portions of the secretin and VIP molecules. As to substance P, the major antigenic region was located within the 3 to 11 sequence. The proline residue in position 4 and methionine in position 11 seemed to be of special importance. The immunoassays demonstrated the existence of immunoreactivities of these hormones in hot water extracts from various porcine tissues. In the pituitary, VIP and substance P immunoreactivities were detected, whereas secretin was not. Secretin, VIP, and substance P were found in the pancreas, but at low concentrations. Distributions of these hormones in various sites of the gastrointestinal tract were also demonstrated.
Posttranslational processing of preprosecretin generates several COOH-terminally extended forms of secretin and alpha-carboxyl amidated secretin. We used synthetic canine secretin analogs with COOH-terminal -amide, -Gly, or -Gly-Lys-Arg to examine the effects of COOH-terminal extensions of secretin on bioactivity and detection in RIA. Synthetic products were purified by reverse-phase and ion-exchange HPLC and characterized by reverse-phase isocratic HPLC and amino acid, sequence, and mass spectral analyses. Secretin and secretin-Gly were noted to coelute during reverse-phase HPLC. In RIA using eight different antisera raised against amidated secretin, COOH-terminally extended secretins had little or no cross-reactivity. Bioactivity was assessed by measuring pancreatic responses in anesthetized rats. Amidated canine and porcine secretins were equipotent. Secretin-Gly and secretin-Gly-Lys-Arg had potencies of 81 +/- 9% (P > 0.05) and 176 +/- 13% (P < 0.01), respectively, compared with amidated secretin, and the response to secretin-Gly-Lys-Arg lasted significantly longer. These data demonstrate that 1) amidated secretin and secretin-Gly are not separable under some chromatographic conditions, 2) current RIA may not detect bioactive COOH-terminally extended forms of secretin in tissue extracts or blood, and 3) the secretin receptor mediating stimulation of pancreatic secretion recognizes both amidated and COOH-terminally extended secretins.
Although secretin and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) stimulate production of the second-messenger substance cyclic AMP and exert a positive inotropic action on rat ventricle in vitro, a direct action of these peptides on cardiomyocytes has not been established. In contrast to hearts of other mammalian species, which possess VIP-preferring receptors, rat heart is unique in that the existence of a "relatively nonselective receptor" at which both secretin and VIP may bind has been proposed. We wished to define the receptor(s) for secretin and VIP present on rat ventricular cardiomyocytes using a homogeneous suspension of viable cells. With adenosine deaminase 5 U/ml and the phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor isobutyl methylxanthine (IBMX) 1 mM, both secretin and VIP increased intracellular levels of cyclic AMP maximally and concentration dependently after 5 min: EC50 values were 8 and 58 nM, respectively. At maximally effective concentrations, secretin 1 microM increased intracellular levels of cyclic AMP fourfold above basal levels, whereas a 1.6-fold increase was induced by VIP 10 microM. Maximum changes in cell length (dL) of isolated cardiomyocytes during electrically stimulated (0.5 Hz) contractions were determined in the presence of adenosine deaminase 2.5 U/ml. Under these conditions, both secretin and VIP produced a concentration-dependent positive contractile response that became maximal 5 min after addition of the peptide. Secretin 50 nM increased the amplitude of cellular contractions maximally to a value 37% greater than that obtained without peptide. VIP 20 nM increased the amplitude of cellular contractions maximally to a value 19% greater than that obtained without peptide. The EC50 values were 470 and 700 pM for VIP and secretin, respectively. The selective antagonist at VIP-preferring receptors, 4-Cl DPhe-6 Leu-17 VIP 10 microM did not antagonise the actions of VIP. In the presence of the selective antagonist at receptors for secretin, secretin 7-27 > or = 10 microM, the concentration dependence of the effect of secretin on accumulation of cellular cyclic AMP and contractile amplitude displayed a rightward parallel shift: the pA2 value for secretin 7-27 was 4.96. Secretin 7-27 also induced a rightward parallel shift of the concentration dependence of the actions of VIP. VIP 10 microM was additive with low concentrations of secretin (< 10 nM) in stimulating production of cyclic AMP but antagonised this response at higher concentrations of secretin (> 10 nM). Similarly, VIP 2 and 20 nM enhanced the contractile response to low concentrations of secretin (< 1 nM), but antagonised the response at higher concentrations of secretin (> 1 nM).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
C-terminally truncated secretin and VIP molecules were synthesized, and their ability to occupy the recombinant secretin and VIP1 receptors stably expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and to stimulate adenylate cyclase activity was studied. On secretin receptors, secretin (1-26) and secretin (1-24) were 10- and 50-fold less potent but as efficient as secretin (1-27); VIP (1-27) was as potent and efficient as VIP (1-28), and VIP (1-26) and VIP (1-25) were both 100-fold less potent. On VIP1 receptor, VIP (1-28) and VIP (1-27) were equipotent and VIP (1-26) and VIP (1-25) were 10- and 300-fold less potent, respectively; secretin (1-27) and secretin (1-26) were of equally low affinity and 10-fold more potent than secretin (1-24). Thus, the secretin and the VIP1 receptors had different selectivity profiles for the recognition of C-terminally truncated secretin and VIP derivatives. The chimeric receptors consisting in the N-terminal part of the secretin receptor on the core of the VIP1 receptor (N-Sn/VIP1.r) and in the N-terminal part of the VIP1 receptor on the core of the secretin receptor (N-VIP1/Sn.r) exhibited the selectivity pattern of the secretin and VIP1 receptors, respectively. The results suggest that the C-terminal end of secretin and VIP interacts with the N-terminal domain of the secretin and VIP receptors.
The rabbit secretion receptor cDNA was cloned from rabbit pancreas using combined polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/rapid amplification of cDNA ends (PCR/RACE) approaches. The rabbit cDNA encoded 445 amino acids and had 80 and 85% homology with rat- and human receptor, respectively, in terms of nucleic and amino acid sequences. Several regions where the rabbit receptor sequence diverged from the rat/human receptor sequences were observed in the putative extracellular domains of the receptor. A cDNA coding for a similar sequence with a 76 bp deletion after the 5th transmembrane domain was also found; it probably encoded an inactive protein. The whole rabbit secretin receptor cDNA was subcloned in expression vector pCR3.1, then stably and transiently transfected in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. The pharmacological properties of the rat and rabbit secretin receptor studies were compared by radiolabeled secretin binding, binding inhibition, and adenylate cyclase activation (using secretin analogs and fragments). Porcine secretin was equipotent with rabbit secretin on the rabbit secretin receptor, but fivefold more potent than rabbit secretin on the rat receptor. This was due to the serine-->arginine residue replacement, in position 16 of rabbit secretin. Amino terminal modified secretin analogs (secretin (2-27), [E3]secretin, [N3]secretin) and VIP were less potent than secretin on both secretin receptors, but more potent on the rabbit than on the rat receptor. The carboxy-terminally truncated fragment (1-26) had the same reduced potency on rat and rabbit receptors. Thus, the rabbit secretin receptor had original properties, different from those of the rat receptor.
The secretin stimulation test is the most sensitive and specific test for pancreatic function. It is usually performed using biologically derived porcine secretin. Several shortages of biologic porcine secretin have occurred in the past few years. The aim of this study was to compare synthetic porcine secretin to biologic porcine secretin in pancreatic function testing in subjects with chronic pancreatitis. Twelve patients with a previously abnormal secretin stimulation test were enrolled. After an overnight fast, each patient underwent a secretin stimulation test on 2 consecutive days using 1 CU/kg biologic porcine secretin or 0.2 [microg/kg synthetic porcine secretin in a randomized fashion. The peak bicarbonate concentration in duodenal juice was used as a measure of pancreatic function. The peak bicarbonate concentration (mean +/- SD) obtained by using biologic porcine secretin and synthetic porcine secretin were 70 +/- 25 mEq/L and 68 +/- 31 mEq/L, respectively (p = 0.58, paired t test; R = 0.964). The accuracy of synthetic porcine secretin in diagnosing pancreatic insufficiency was 100% when compared with biologic porcine secretin. We conclude that synthetic porcine secretin is highly accurate and safe in pancreatic function testing. The 100% purity, excellent diagnostic accuracy, and ready availability make synthetic porcine secretin an attractive choice for secretin stimulation testing.
We have studied the concentration of various gastrointestinal peptides in a crude porcine secretin (Boots) preparation and pure natural porcine secretin (GIH, Kabi) preparation. Boots secretin was found to contain 140.3 ng secretin, 1.27 ng human pancreatic polypeptide (hPP), 1.03 ng gastrin, 137.4 ng cholecystokinin (CCK), 241 microU insulin, 1.86 ng vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), 2.22 ng glucagon and 6.60 ng somatostatin (SRIF) per Crick Harper unit Boots secretin. Sephadex gel filtration demonstrated that the immunoreactivity was due to the hormone per se. GIH secretin contained 240 ng secretin per clinical unit (CU) and less than detectable concentrations of hPP, gastrin, CCK, insulin, VIP, glucagon and SRIF. To determine the clinical significance of having contaminating peptides in Boots secretin, we investigated the effect(s) in 4 subjects. Determined in a highly gastrin-specific assay, the mean plasma gastrin response to Boots secretin administration was slightly, but not significantly greater than the GIH secretin response at 1 and 2.5 minutes. However, in some subjects false positive elevations in plasma gastrin immunoreactivity occurred when some commercially available kit gastrin assays were employed. After intravenous injection of Boots secretin, mean plasma hPP levels rose significantly more than after GIH secretin administration. The mean peak plasma insulin level after GIH secretin administration was significantly higher than after Boots secretin. Neither secretin preparation caused a change in plasma glucose, glucagon and SRIF levels. From these results, it is suggested that GIH secretin be used as the preparation of choice in provocative testing for diagnosing gastrinoma or deficiencies of exocrine pancreatic function.
Crude membranes (27,000 g pellets) from five normal human pancreases were prepared. In the presence of GTP, the peptides of the secretin family stimulated adenylate cyclase activity, their order of potency being: secretin greater than helodermin greater than peptide histidine isoleucinamide (PHI) greater than or equal to vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) greater than growth hormone releasing factor (GRF) (1-29)-NH2. In addition, helodermin and PHI were more efficient than secretin. Secretin (3-27) inhibited fully the secretin stimulation and partially only the helodermin and PHI stimulation of the enzyme. Secretin receptors were investigated by the ability of secretin and related peptides to inhibit tracer binding. [125I]Secretin binding was fully inhibited by secretin (Kd 0.8 nM), helodermin (Kd 200 nM), and PHI (Kd 250 nM). VIP and GRF(1-29)-NH2 induced partial (20%) inhibition at a high 10 microM concentration. The fragments secretin (2-27), (3-27), (4-27), and (7-27) showed the same low potency and efficacy based on their ability to stimulate adenylate cyclase and to occupy secretin receptors. The analogues [Val5]secretin and [Ala2]secretin had a higher potency than secretin. Based on this comparison of adenylate cyclase stimulation and [125I]secretin binding inhibition, it is tempting to conclude that the human pancreas: (a) possesses highly specific secretin receptors and (b) such receptors could not fully account for the whole pattern of adenylate cyclase activation by related peptides, so that the presence of an added type of "helodermin-PHI-preferring" receptors is suggested.
BACKGROUND: Biologically derived porcine secretin has been used as a diagnostic agent in clinical gastrointestinal practice for many years. Pure synthetic porcine secretin is now available for investigational clinical use. AIM: To compare the pharmacology of synthetic porcine secretin and biologically derived porcine secretin in healthy volunteers. METHODS: Secretin stimulation tests were performed in 12 volunteer subjects in a double-blind, randomized, Latin square crossover design study comparing three doses of synthetic porcine secretin (0.05, 0.2, and 0.4 microgram/kg) with a standard dose of biologically derived porcine secretin (1 CU/kg). Duodenal aspirates were analysed for total volume and for bicarbonate concentration. Total bicarbonate output was calculated. RESULTS: Twelve subjects completed four dosing regimens. A multiple comparison test was used to compare dosing regimens. The 0.2 and 0.4 microgram/kg doses of synthetic porcine secretin were not different from the 1 CU/kg dose of biologically derived porcine secretin for volume, bicarbonate concentration and total output from 0 to 60 min. Only one patient had an adverse event, which was mild, transient flushing after the 0.2 and 0.4 microgram/kg doses of synthetic porcine secretin and after the 1 CU/kg dose of biologically derived porcine secretin. CONCLUSIONS: Synthetic porcine secretin has identical pharmacologic effects to biologically derived porcine secretin in normal subjects. Both drugs were safe and well-tolerated. This study validates synthetic porcine secretin as a substitute for biologically derived porcine secretin.
Although convincing evidence has been obtained to support a ductular origin of secretin choleresis, the precise mechanism of the choleretic effect of the hormone is poorly understood. The present studies were carried out to 1) further clarify the anatomic site at which secretin stimulates bile flow and 2) establish the signal transduction system underlying this effect. To this end, parenchymal and nonparenchymal liver cells, the latter enriched in bile duct cells, were isolated from rats with ductular cell hyperplasia, and the effect of secretin on intracellular formation of both adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) and inositol phosphates (IPs) was compared with that observed with glucagon and [Tyr10,13,Phe22,Trp25]secretin (SG-secretin). In the pancreas, secretin stimulates both messenger systems, while SG-secretin activates only the cAMP cascade. In isolated hepatocytes, both secretin and SG-secretin failed to increase formation of cAMP and IPs, which were instead activated by glucagon. In isolated bile duct cells, secretin induced formation of both cAMP and IPs, while SG-secretin stimulated solely the cAMP system, as in the pancreas. Glucagon did not stimulate either messenger system in this cell preparation. In vivo, both secretin and SG-secretin stimulated a bicarbonate-rich fluid in rats with bile ductular cell hyperplasia and in normal guinea pigs, which was demonstrated to originate at the distal biliary epithelium. These findings support the existing view that glucagon stimulates canalicular bile flow, while secretin increases secretory activity at the bile ductules and/or ducts. More importantly, they indicate that stimulation of ductular secretory activity by secretin is mediated by the cAMP system and does not involve the IP signal transduction pathway.
Recent studies have suggested that secretin, like glucose, stimulates a rapid insulin response from a small storage pool. In order to evaluate the mechanism of the secretin-stimulated insulin response, small (15 U) rapidly administered intravenous injections (pulses) of secretin were given before, during, and after a 20 hr 300 mg/min glucose infusion. Contrary to previous studies demonstrating that the acute insulin response to a small (5 g) pulse of glucose given 45 min after the start of the glucose infusion was significantly diminished compared to the response to the preinfusion pulse, the acute insulin response (2-5 min Deltaimmuno-reactive insulin muU/ml) to 15-U secretin pulses exhibited a greater than twofold increase (before: 31.1+/-15.4; during: 71.2+/-40.4, muU/ml, mean +/-SD, P < 0.02). The increased response to secretin was also found after 20 hr of continuous glucose infusion, but was not observed 1 hr after cessation of the infusion when plasma glucose levels returned to control values. Thus, this increased response to secretin was glucose dependent. Four 150-U secretin pulses given at 30 min intervals elicited progressively and significantly diminished acute insulin responses with each succeeding pulse, consistent with depletion of the small storage pool. Similar to the observation that the magnitude of the insulin response to secretin was glucose dependent, the glucose-stimulated output appeared to be secretin dependent. Thus the acute insulin response to 5 g glucose was increased after secretin pretreatment (presecretin: 34.9+/-14.8; postsecretin: 50.5+/-22.5 muU/ml. P < 0.02) which suggests that secretin may either enlarge the storage pool stimulated by glucose or increase its sensitivity. The effect of epinephrine and propranolol on acute insulin responses to secretin and glucose was also different. 15-U secretin pulses were unaffected by infusions of either epinephrine (pre: 31.6+/-17.9; during: 27.8+/-16.6 muU/ml) or propranolol (pre: 12.8+/-8.4; during: 10.7+/-5.5 muU/ml). The results of these studies indicate that although both glucose and secretin stimulate a rapid insulin response, these responses are easily differentiated. The data suggest that glucose and secretin stimulate functionally separate storage pools of insulin, but that the acute response to either stimulus is partly determined by exposure to the other.