The aim of the mini review is to more precisely determine the relationship between exocrine pancreas function and the growth of young pigs. In order to do so, it is necessary to clarify the components, pathways and messengers involved in the CCK-dependent neuro-hormonal regulation of the exocrine pancreas in the growing pigs. These mechanisms are largely unknown, and the role of CCK has been questioned since CCK receptors on the enzyme producing acinar cells are lacking. Our hitherto obtained results have shown the importance of CCK for the pancreatic enzyme secretion and that in pigs CCK functions via CCK-B receptor-mediated entero(duodenal)-pancreatic reflex and via CCK-A receptor mechanism which localization is unknown. Preliminary studies have indicated this later mechanism as being related to the growth performance of pigs. The planned studies will comprise a pharmacologic characterization and an immunohistologic localization of the components and messengers involved in the CCK-dependent neuro-hormonal pancreatic regulation using an appropriately catheterized pig model. Since the applied aim of the project is to correlate the growth of the pigs to the effectiveness of the pancreatic secretion and to the development of its regulatory mechanisms, the experiments will be performed on pigs having different growth and performance. It is expected that the discussion will provide important applicable understanding of pancreatic function and its impact on pig growth and performance and also highlight the mechanism of the inter-organ regulatory pathways of the exocrine pancreatic function.