This paper was addressed to know whether early events in mitogenesis (activation of the Na+/H+, activation of ornithine decarboxylase and formation of cyclic AMP) are involved in pancreatic cell proliferation and mediate secretory process. The AR4-2J cell line was used. Analogues of amiloride inhibited cell proliferation but had no effect on amylase release. Activation of ornithine decarboxylase was triggered via a CCK B receptor type not involved in pancreatic secretion. Inhibition of cyclic AMP was not involved in inhibition of cell proliferation caused by somatostatin. Specific effectors might be related either to the secretory or to the trophic pathway. Another possibility is that multiple receptor sub-classes are linked to specific pathways.