Cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) (EC50 = 5 nM) was considerably more potent than pentagastrin (EC50 =161 nM) in stimulating acid secretion in the isolated perfused mouse stomach suspended in a medium containing a phosphodiesterase inhibitor. The maximum acid response to CCK-8 was not significantly different from that produced by pentagastrin. The nonselective CCK/gastrin antagonist, proglumide, but not the selective CCK antagonist, asperlicin, antagonized the acid response to both pentagastrin and CCK-8. The data suggest that CCK-8 acts as a potent, full agonist on gastrin receptors for acid secretion in the isolated mouse stomach.