Pharmacokinetics of pancreatic polypeptide in man

Pure bovine pancreatic polypeptide (PP) was infused into 23 healthy subjects at doses of 1, 3, and 5 pmol/kg/min over 60 minutes and plasma PP was measured by radioimmunoassay. During the infusions mean plasma levels of 203±34, 575±73, and 930±48 pmol/l respectively were achieved. Mean disappearance half time on stopping the infusion was 6.9±0.3 min (mean ± SEM). The metabolic clearance rate was 5.1±0.2 ml/kg/min (mean±SEM) and the apparent volume of distribution was calculated to be 51±3 ml/kg (mean ± SEM). This study provides for the first time pharmacokinetic data for PP in man.