Secretin

   Secretin and secretin receptors are expressed in the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, and secretin inhibits adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)(Nussdorfer et al, 2000).

   It might be for this reason that secretin injections have at times improved autistic syptoms, as autistic patients have shown elevated ACTH levels.

  Recent anecdotal reports have touted the gastrointestinal  (GI) hormone secretin as a treatment modality for autism,  though there is little clinical evidence or literature to support its viability.

    Results of a double-blind study indicate that although treatment with secretin was reported to cause transient changes in speech and behavior in some children, overall it produced few clinically meaningful changes when compared to children given placebo injections (Chez et al, 2000).

    The thyroid gland plays an essential role in maintaining the functional integrity of the exocrine pancreas in humans (Gullo et al, 1996).

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Chez MG, Buchanan CP, Bagan BT, Hammer MS, McCarthy KS, Ovrutskaya I, Nowinski CV, Cohen ZS - Secretin and autism: a two-part clinical investigation" J Autism Dev Disord 30(2):87-94 (2000) MEDLINE

Gullo L, Pezzilli R, Bellanova B, D'Ambrosi A, Alvisi V, Barbara L - "Influence of the thyroid on exocrine pancreatic function" Gastroenterology 100(5 Pt 1):1392-6  (1991)MEDLINE

Nussdorfer GG, Bahcelioglu M, Neri G, Malendowicz LK - "Secretin, glucagon, gastric inhibitory polypeptide, parathyroid hormone, and related peptides in the regulation of the hypothalamus- pituitary-adrenal axis" Peptides 21(2):309-24  (2000) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?uid=10764961&form=6&db=m&Dopt=r