Although importance of intrapancreatic neurons containing gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) in control of exocrine secretion has been raised, the nature of GRP in the pancreas is unclear. Thus, the present study was undertaken to see distribution, content and molecular heterogeneity of immunoreactive GRP in the rat pancreas. Content of immunoreactive GRP in the rat pancreas was 2.99 ⁑ 0.66 ng/g wet tissues determined by radioimmunoassay. Immunoreactive GRP was most abundantly expressed in the duodenal part among 3 parts of the pancreas; duodenal, body and splenic part. Vagotomy failed to change the content of immunoreactive GRP in the pancreas. Three distinct forms of immunoreactive GRP, very identical to GRP-27, bombesin-24 and neuromedin C, were observed in the rat pancreas by using reversed phase C18 HPLC and Sephadex G-50 superfine column chromatography. Cell bodies of neurons containing immunoreactive GRP were scattered in pancreatic connective tissues and their nerve fibers innervated pancreatic acini and large ducts as determined by immunohistochemistry. The present results suggest that three distinct forms of GRP exist in intrapancreatic GRPergic neurons, which exert a stimulatory role in pancreatic exocrine secretion in rats.