A capsaicin-sensitive vagal afferent pathway was reported to mediate the effect of endogenous cholecystokinin (CCK) on pancreatic secretion in anesthetized rats. Because neural blockade affects pancreatic secretion much less in awake than in anesthetized rats, the effect of capsaicin ablation of vagal afferent pathways on pancreatic secretion stimulated by endogenous CCK was examined in awake rats. During surgery, abdominal vagal trunks were exposed, and 0.1 ml of capsaicin (10 mg/ml) was applied to the vagal trunks. Ablation of the vagal afferent pathway was assessed by the ability of intraperitoneal cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) to suppress food intake and inhibit gastric emptying. Endogenous CCK release was stimulated by diversion of bile pancreatic juice from the intestine and by intraduodenal infusion of casein. Pancreatic protein and fluid secretion were significantly increased by both treatments, and the responses were unaffected by capsaicin. Intraperitoneal CCK-8 markedly inhibited food intake and gastric emptying, and both effects were significantly attenuated in capsaicin-treated rats, indicating that capsaicin treatment successfully ablated vagal afferent fibers. It is concluded that CCK-stimulated pancreatic secretion in rats is not mediated by a vagal afferent pathway.