The potentiating effect of secretin on cholecystokinin (CCK)-stimulated exocrine pancreatic secretion was studied in anesthetized rats. Intravenous infusion of CCK-8 in three different doses of 0.03, 0.06 and 0.12 micrograms/kg-hr increased pancreatic secretion of volume, bicarbonate, amylase and trypsin outputs dose-dependently. Simultaneous infusion of CCK-8 with secretin in a dose of 0.03 CU/kg-hr produced statistically greater pancreatic secretion of volume, bicarbonate, amylase and trypsin outputs than that by CCK-8 alone, and than the sum by secretin alone and CCK-8 alone in each dose. Proglumide (600 mg/kg-hr) significantly suppressed exocrine pancreatic secretion produced by CCK-8 (0.06 micrograms/kg-hr) plus secretin (0.03 CU/kg-hr), to the level induced by secretin alone. These results indicate that CCK-8 increased pancreatic secretion dose-dependently, and secretin in a physiological dose potentiates the stimulating effect of CCK-8 on exocrine pancreatic secretion in rats.