It has been reported that morphine abolished the plasma pancreatic polypeptide (PP) response to a meal in man, but the mechanism of this action is unclear. This study was designed to investigate the effect of low doses of the endogenous opiate peptide. Met-enkephalin and naloxone on basal- and meal-stimulated PP release in order to examine the role of opioid modulation in the release of this hormone. Four gastric fistula dogs underwent a series of six studies, a test meal alone. Met-enkephalin infusion (40 microgram/kg/hr), naloxone infusion, meal plus naloxone infusion and meal plus Met-enkephalin plus naloxone. Gastrin and PP were measured by radioimmunoassay. Basal PP levels averaged 35.1 +/- 3.0 fmol/ml. Although Met-enkephalin had no effect on basal PP levels, it significantly (P less than 0.05) inhibited the mean peak increment of PP stimulated by a meal (control, 331 +/- 39 fmol/ml; Met-enkephalin, 145 +/- 49 fmol/ml; P less than 0.05). This inhibition was completely abolished by naloxone. Naloxone alone did not alter basal- or meal-stimulated plasma PP levels. Neither Met-enkephalin nor naloxone altered basal or stimulated plasma gastrin levels. This study demonstrated that opiate peptides play a role in the regulation of the release of PP by a meal; it thus suggests the possibility of an opioid modulatory mechanism for the release of this hormone.