The effects of electrical stimulation of the central (CE) and basolateral (BL) amygdaloid nuclei on pancreatic exocrine secretion were tested in urethane-anesthetized rats. Electrical stimulation (0.1 mA, 1 ms, 40 Hz) of the CE significantly increased basal and hormone (secretin+cholecystokinin-8)-infused pancreatic exocrine secretion. These increases in pancreatic secretion were abolished by bilateral vagotomy. Electrical stimulation of the BL had no significant effect on basal and hormone-infused secretion. We conclude that the CE plays a stimulatory role in pancreatic exocrine secretion via the vagus nerve but the BL does not affect pancreatic secretion.