cholecystokinin

Cholecystokinin is a peptide hormone and neuropeptide primarily produced by enteroendocrine cells in the duodenum and also found in neurons of the central and enteric nervous systems. It plays a key role in digestion by stimulating gallbladder contraction to release bile and promoting pancreatic enzyme secretion. Cholecystokinin acts as an agonist at cholecystokinin receptors (mainly type A/CCK1) to mediate these effects. It also delays gastric emptying, relaxes the sphincter of Oddi, inhibits gastric acid secretion, increases intestinal motility, and induces satiety via actions on both peripheral tissues and the brain. Clinically, exogenous cholecystokinin or its synthetic analogs are used as diagnostic aids for evaluating gallbladder function (e.g., during HIDA scans) or pancreatic insufficiency[1][5][6]. In research settings, fragments like CCK-4 are used to study anxiety mechanisms due to their ability to induce panic symptoms[2]. The only FDA-approved pharmaceutical form is sincalide.

Brand names

sincalide

Other names

cholecystokininpancreozyminCCK-8CCK8CCK 8CCK-4CCK4CCK 4