Bombesin Stimulates the Release of Insulin and Glucagon, but Not Pancreatic Somatostatin, from the Isolated Perfused Dog Pancreas

Synthetic bombesin, perfused in the isolated canine pancreas at a rate of 340-380 ng/min for 10 min, elicited a 4-fold rise in insulin to a peak at 2 min; a rapid decline followed discontinuation of bombesin. Glucagon rose by 50% to a peak at 6 min, but remained elevated after discontinuation of the bombesin. Somatostatin-like immunoreactivity was not significantly affected by perfusion with bombesin.