What is "ceruletide"

n. An oligopeptide that stimulates smooth muscle and increases digestive secretions.

Ceruletide ( INN), also known as cerulein or caerulein, is a ten amino acid oligopeptide that stimulates smooth muscle and increases digestive secretions. Ceruletide is similar in action and composition to cholecystokinin. It stimulates gastric, biliary, and pancreatic secretion; and certain smooth muscle. It is used in paralytic ileus and as diagnostic aid in pancreatic malfunction. It is used to induce pancreatitis in experimental animal models.

thumb|upright=1.5|The tree frog Litoria caerulae, formerly named Hyla caerulae. Ceruletide was discovered and its structure elucidated in 1967 by Australian and Italian scientists from dried skins of the Australian green tree frog (Litoria caerulea, formerly Hyla caerulea). Its amino acid sequence is Pglu-Gln-Asp-Tyr[SOH]-Thr-Gly-Trp-Met-Asp-Phe-NH.