The aim of the present study was to assess the role of cholecystokinin and neurotensin in converting the cyclical interdigestive pattern of pancreatic secretion into the non-cyclical fed pattern. Six healthy male volunteers were studied on 4 separate days. During each experiment a mixed liquid meal or solutions of individual nutrients were perfused intraduodenally for 180 min at 2 ml/min. The mixed meal contained 4.3 g glucose, 2.0 g fractionated soya oil, and 1.7 g casein hydrolysate per 100 ml, which delivered a caloric load of 0.9 kcal/min into the duodenum. The isocaloric and isotonic solutions of individual nutrients contained 44.5 g glucose, 17.8 g fractionated soya oil, or 44.5 g hydrolysed serum bovine albumin per liter and delivered 0.36 kcal/min into the duodenum. Duodenal aspirates and blood samples were collected at regular intervals for determination of pancreatic enzyme outputs and plasma levels of cholecystokinin and neurotensin, respectively. The mixed meal converted the cyclical interdigestive secretory pattern into the noncyclical fed pattern whereas none of the three individual nutrients abolished the interdigestive pattern. Not only the mixed meal but also lipid and protein perfusion consistently stimulated cholecystokinin release. Integrated incremental cholecystokinin release amounted to 32.3 +/- 9.9 pg/ml x 180 min with the mixed meal, 23.2 +/- 6.5 with lipid perfusion (P < 0.05 versus mixed meal) and 13.4 +/- 3.8 with protein perfusion (P < 0.05 versus mixed meal). The carbohydrate solution did not significantly release cholecystokinin. None of the duodenal perfusates raised neurotensin plasma levels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)