Abstract-Effectsof L-dopa, L-5HTP, a few amines, and related compounds on the pancreatic rate of flow, protein secretion, and bicarbonate secretion were studied in conscious rats. Single injections of L-dopa, DA and apomorphine did not modify the rate of flow, while an increase was seen with infusion of DA. L-dopa stimulated the protein secretion. L-5HTP and 5-HT decreased the rate of flow and protein secretion. Effects of L-dopa and L-5HTP on the protein secretion were prevented by DA and 5-HT blockers, respectively. Neither L-dopa nor L-5HTP had any effect on the bicarbonate secretion. Secretin and cholinergic agents (acetylcholine and carbamyl choline) strongly stimulated the rate of flow of pancreatic juice. a-Agonists (phenyl ephrine and clonidine) decreased the rate of flow, and the effects were inhibited by an a-blocker. The a-agonists had no effect on protein secretion. Although, a-blockers (phenoxybenzamine and phentolamine) had no effects on the rate of flow, they did decrease the protein secretion.Isoproterenol was a potent secretagogue, and the effect was suppressed by a f4-blocker. Histamine had no effect on the rate of flow. The results were discussed in relation to our previous histochemical and chemical findings, and the species difference between rats and dogs in response to the amines.Acinar cells of the exocrine pancreas of rats efficiently take up and metabolize L-dopa (1, 2) and L-5HTP (3, 4). In previous histochemical and chemical studies, some differences and similarities between the L-dopa and L-5HTP metabolism were observed. The main findings were: 1) L-dopa was more rapidly metabolized than L-5HTP, 2) the pretreatment with DA-blockers increased markedly the accumulation of pancreatic DA after injection of L-dopa, whereas pretreatment with 5-HT blocker decreased the accumulation of 5-HT after injection of L-5HTP, 3) the pretreatment with a-blocker resulted in the increase of both DA and 5-HT content after injection of L-dopa and L-5HTP, respectively, and 4) iproniazide, a MAO inhibitor, was more effective in increasing the accumulation of 5-HT.The excretion of DA and 5-HT appeared to be associated with the secretion of zymogen granules, thus the amines can serve as indicator of pancreatic secretory activity, particularly enzyme secretion. Because DA and 5-HT blockers produced an increase and decrease in accumulation of pancreatic DA and 5-HT contents, respectively, it was suggested that DA and 5-HT, formed from their corresponding precursors, could modify the pancreatic secretion of rats, particularly enzyme secretion.The present experiments were an attempt to correlate the histochemical and chemical findings with possible pharmacological effects of L-dopa, L-5HTP, their corresponding amines, and the blockers on the pancreatic secretion of rats. Effects of other amines were also studied.