Gastro‐Intestinal Hormones and Bile Secretion in the Perfused Pig Liver: The Effects of Secretin, Cholecystokinin and Pentagastrin

The effects of secretin, cholecystokinin and pentagastrin on the hepatic bile secretion rate were studied in the perfused pig liver. An increase in the bile secretion rate and bicarbonate output was found during secretin infusion. Simultaneous infusion of either cholecystokinin or pentagastrin with secertin augmented this increase to level greater than the sum of the single hormone responses. Secretin produced a fall in bile‐salt output. but neither cholecystokinin nor pentagastrin had any such effect. However, when either cholecystokinin or pentagastrin was infused together with secretin, there was an increase in bile salt output for 30 minutes, followed by maintenance of output at base‐line values. All three hormones must therefore influence the handling of bile salts by the hepatocyte.