Peptide and cholinergic secretagogues both produce biphasic dose-response curves for pancreatic enzyme secretion in vitro: supraoptimal doses result in submaximal secretory responses. We compared the effects of maximal and supramaximal doses of a cholinergic agent (carbachol) on rat exocrine pancreas in vivo. In conscious rats, volume and enzyme output were measured from the cannulated pancreatic duct during infusion of carbachol for 3 h. Infusion of 5 X 10(-7) mol . kg-1 . h-1 carbachol caused optimal stimulation, whereas a supraoptimal dose (5 X 10(-6) mol . kg-1 . h-1) resulted in submaximal response. Similar results were achieved when discharge of amylase and protein synthesis was determined in vitro after carbachol in vivo. Supraoptimal doses of carbachol increased serum amylase and enhanced acinar cell lysosomal activity in the Golgi area. The latter appeared to induce fusion of zymogen granules, which resulted in cytoplasmic vacuoles. The in vivo results corroborate in vitro findings of a biphasic dose-response relationship for carbachol and demonstrate destructive effects of supraoptimal concentrations on target cells.