STUDIES ON THE PANCREATIC SECRETION IN SKATES

¹ From the Atlantic Biological Station, St. Andrews, N. B., and the Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada

1. The system of pancreatic ducts in R. erinacea, diaphanes and stabuliforis presents certain peculiarities which differentiate it from the analogous system of ducts in higher mammalian animals.

2. Pancreatic secretion in skates which have previously fasted for several days is continuous but very scanty. Hydrochloric acid and secretin increased this secretion. Pilocarpin was without effect. The previous introduction into the duodenum of the acid digest of proteins increased the secretory effect of the hydrochloric acid.

3. The pancreatic juice is a neutral fluid (pH = 6.6 to 7.2), possessing proteolytic, diastatic and lipolytic action.

4. Alcoholic extracts of the pancreas show the same enzyme action as the juice. A proteolytic enzyme is contained in the gland in the form of protrypsin, which may be activated by 0.9 per cent. NaCl extract of the mucous membrane of the duodenum and spiral valve.

5. Bile is secreted continuously. Introduction of 0.36 per cent. HCl solution and 10 per cent. Witte's peptone solution into the duodenum increases the secretion.