Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) is a neuropeptide that stimulates gastrin release. It binds to (Ki = 300 nM) and stimulates amylase secretion in rat pancreatic AR42J cells (EC50 = 0.3 nM). GRP increases proliferation of human liver carcinoma HepG2 and MHCC97H cells but does not affect the proliferation of normal HL-7702 liver cells at a concentration of 1 nM. In vivo, GRP (0.35 nmol/kg/h) increases both pancreatic exocrine secretion and pancreatic polypeptide (PP) release in rats. It dose-dependently stimulates gastrin, pancreatic amylase, lipase, bilirubin, and acid output and induces gallbladder contraction in humans when administered at doses ranging from 1 to 27 pmol/kg per hour.