The CCKB/gastrin receptor antagonist, PD 135158 (CAM 1028), surprisingly stimulates lipase release from isolated rat pancreatic acini dose dependently in a biphasic manner, with identical efficacy but lower potency compared to cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8). Half-maximal stimulation occurred at 0.6 microM and maximal secretion was induced at 50 microM. Supramaximal concentrations decreased lipase release. Acinar lipase secretion in response to 25 pM CCK-8 or 1 microM CAM-1028 was abolished by 5 microM of the specific CCKA receptor antagonist loxiglumide (CR 1505), half-maximal inhibition was observed at 0.6 microM for CCK-8 and 0.4 microM for PD 135158. These data demonstrate that the CCKB/gastrin receptor antagonist, PD 135158, acts as a full agonist at the rat pancreatic CCKA receptor.