Phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance (31P NMR) spectroscopy was used to study energy supply for protein secretion in the isolated perfused rat pancreas. Stimulation with cholecystokinin (CCK-8) increased fluid secretion and protein output. With 10pM of CCK-8, the tissue contents of ATP, inorganic phosphate (Pi), and creatine phosphate (PCr) remained unchanged. With 100pM of CCK-8, which induced the maximum response in fluid secretion and protein output, Pi increased slightly, ATP and PCr remained almost unchanged. A high dose of CCK-8 (1 nM) suppressed the fluid and protein secretory rates, decreased ATP, and increased Pi significantly, but PCr showed a tendency of increase. Significant changes in ATP and Pi occurred on withdrawal of CCK-8 (1 nM), suggesting activation of ATP hydrolysis for recovery from secretory suppression. During stimulation with 0.1, 0.3, and 3.0 microM of acetylcholine, the similar dose-dependent response was observed in the secretion and the phosphorus metabolism. The present study demonstrated that cytosolic energy metabolism for secretory responses in the pancreas is low and the Lohmann reaction showed less contribution than in the salivary gland. The findings suggest that the energy supply for protein secretion may be cytosolic diffusion of ATP and that the Lohmann reaction system may contribute to synthesis and storing of secretory protein at resting state.