We studied the neural and hormonal regulation of the secretion of pancreatic spasmolytic polypeptide (PSP), a potential growth factor, from isolated perfused porcine pancreas and the pancreatic exocrine secretion of PSP in response to a meal in young conscious pigs. PSP concentrations in the pancreatic juice ranged from 1 to 180 micrograms/ml. PSP released to the venous effluent amounted to 0.4-7% of the total output. Thus PSP is predominantly an exocrine product. Electrical vagal nerve stimulation increased PSP output 30-fold. Acetylcholine mimicked the effect of nerve stimulation, which was inhibited but not abolished by atropine. Both vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and gastrin-releasing peptide stimulated PSP secretion. PSP concentration in the juice decreased in response to secretin and increased after cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8), but both increased PSP output. In conscious pigs, pancreatic secretion of protein and PSP increased in parallel. Like pancreatic enzyme secretion, we conclude that PSP secretion is controlled by parasympathetic mechanisms that include both cholinergic and peptidergic pathways and by endocrine mechanisms that may include both secretin and CCK-8.