We investigated a possible role of endogenous secretin and cholecystokinin (CCK) in inhibition of gastric acid secretion induced by intraduodenal administration of oleic acid in rats. Intraduodenal administration of oleic acid emulsion in a dose of 1 mmol/hr resulted in significant inhibition of gastric acid secretion stimulated by intravenous infusion of pentagastrin (0.3 micrograms/kg/hr), and this was accompanied by an increase in the plasma concentration of both secretin and CCK, from 1.2 +/- 0.08 pM and 20.6 +/- 1.2 pM to 4.3 +/- 0.18 pM and 31.6 +/- 0.9 pM, respectively (P less than 0.001). Intravenous infusion of secretin (0.05 CU/kg/hr) inhibited pentagastrin-stimulated gastric acid secretion, but CCK-8 (0.03 micrograms/kg/hr) failed, although intravenous infusion of secretin and CCK in those doses produced plasma levels comparable to the levels achieved in response to oleic acid administration. Furthermore, the oleic acid-induced suppression of gastric acid secretion was blocked significantly by intravenous injection of rabbit anti-secretin serum (0.1 ml), but not by intravenous infusion of a CCK-receptor antagonist, CR 1409 (5 mg/kg/hr). Thus, the results of this study indicate that endogenous secretin rather than CCK is involved in the hormonal mechanism regulating the inhibition of gastric acid secretion by intestinal fat in rats.