Release of somatostatin immunoreactivity from human antral D cells in culture

A primary culture of human antral somatostatin cells has been developed and used in release studies. The phorbol ester, phorbol 12 myristate 13-acetate, caused a concentration-dependent increase in immunoreactive somatostatin secretion with a 1-mumol/L concentration resulting in a 40-fold stimulation (basal 0.28% +/- 0.7% total cell content vs. 13.8% +/- 2.2% TCC, P less than 0.005). The calcium ionophore, A23187, resulted in a significant stimulation only at 1 mumol/L (basal 0.28% +/- 0.7% TCC vs. 2.2% +/- 0.5% total cell content, P less than 0.05). However, addition of the ionophore at 1 mumol/L with the phorbol ester resulted in a potentiation of the response at all concentrations tested. Removal of extracellular calcium by chelation with EGTA reduced the response to that seen with the phorbol ester alone. Forskolin at 0.1 mmol/L resulted in a five-fold increase (basal 0.6% +/- 0.2% total cell content vs. 2.8% +/- 0.9% total cell content, P less than 0.02) and was 1000-fold less potent than the phorbol ester. The peptides bombesin and gastrin at concentrations up to 1 mumol/L had no effect on basal secretion. Cholecystokinin-8 significantly stimulated somatostatin secretion with a maximal effect at 0.1 mumol/L resulting in an eightfold increase (basal 0.2% +/- 0.04% total cell content vs. 1.5% +/- 0.4% total cell content, P less than 0.02). These results indicate that human antral D cells are more responsive to agents acting through the c-kinase pathway (phorbol 12 myristate 13-acetate, A23187, and cholecystokinin) than adenylate cyclase (forskolin).     

Effect of Platelet-Activating Factor on Gastrin Release from Cultured Rabbit G-Cells

Gastric infection with Helicobacter pylori is associated with hypergastrinemia. Platelet activating factor (PAF) is produced in H. pylori-infected mucosa. The effects of PAF on gastrin release from cultured antral rabbit G cells were examined. Rabbit antral G-cells were obtained by collagenase-EDTA digestion and enriched by centrifugal elutriation. After 40 hr in culture, gastrin release in response to PAF was assessed. PAF stimulated gastrin release in a dose-dependent manner. A maximal release of 67% above basal was seen with PAF at 100 nM. PAF also enhanced the gastrin release stimulated by forskolin and bombesin. PAF-stimulated gastrin release was abolished by a PAF-receptor antagonist. Gastrin release stimulated by PAF was abolished by chelation of intra- or extracellular calcium or the L-type calcium channel inhibitor verapamil as well as by the protein kinase C inhibitor chelerythrine. Platelet-activating factor may contribute to the hypergastrinemia of H. pylori infection by stimulating gastrin release from G cells. PAF-stimulated gastrin release involves influx of extracellular calcium via L-type channels and activation of protein kinase C.     

Effects of bombesin on the release of glycine-extended progastrin (gastrin G) in rat antral tissue culture

Recently, glycine-extended processing intermediates of progastrin were identified in porcine stomach using a radioimmunoassay with conventional polyclonal antisera developed against a synthetic peptide analogue for progastrin processing intermediates, gastrin 6-G(Tyr-Gly-Trp-Met-Asp-Phe-Gly). We developed monoclonal antibodies specific for glycine-extended processing intermediates of progastrin (gastrin G). Monoclonal antibody 109-21 appeared to require the carboxyl-terminal pentapeptide structure of gastrin 6-G for maximal binding. Cross-reactivities of 109-21 against gastrin 17 I, gastrin 17 II, cholecystokinin-octapeptide, des(SO3) cholecystokinin-octapeptide, and gastrin 6-G-R-R were respectively 1%, less than 0.1%, less than 0.1%, 0.1%, and 0.5%. With this monoclonal antibody and a polyclonal gastrin antibody we examined the concentrations of gastrin and gastrin G in tissue and the effects of bombesin on the release of gastrin and gastrin G from rat antral mucosa in tissue culture. The gastrin G to gastrin ratio was 2.2 in rat antral mucosa and 0.66 in rat duodenal mucosa. In tissue culture, bombesin significantly stimulated gastrin and gastrin-G secretion at doses of 10(-8) and 3 X 10(-8) M. Atropine (10(-6) M) abolished the actions of carbachol to stimulate gastrin and gastrin-G secretion but had no effect on bombesin-stimulated gastrin and gastrin-G secretion. These results suggest that gastrin G is cosecreted with gastrin in response to carbachol and bombesin, and the stimulation of gastrin and gastrin-G secretion by bombesin does not involve cholinergic neural pathways and may reflect a direct action on gastrin cells.     

Effect of acute suppression of acid secretion by omeprazole on postprandial gastrin release in conscious dogs

The effect of acute suppression of acid secretion induced by administration of a single dose of omeprazole (2 mg/kg body wt) on postprandial gastrin release was studied in 10 conscious dogs. In omeprazole-treated dogs, a sustained gastrin release was observed during a 10-h period after feeding, although greater than 95% of the meal had left the stomach after 4 h. This sustained gastrin release could be inhibited by acidification of the gastric lumen, by somatostatin, and by atropine. Insulin and bombesin induced considerable gastrin release in omeprazole-treated dogs, but plasma gastrin concentrations returned almost to basal values after 3 h. Omeprazole administered alone had no significant effect on basal gastrin levels. These data indicate that, in dogs, when acid secretion is suppressed by omeprazole a meal induces a sustained gastrin release lasting for up to 10 h. This gastrin release is probably related to the fact that food has been in contact with the gastric lumen, as neither vagal nor bombesin stimulation induced such a sustained activity of the G cells.     

Mechanism of action of the calcium-sensing receptor in human antral gastrin cells

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Human G cells express the calcium-sensing receptor and respond to extracellular calcium by releasing gastrin. However, the receptor on G cells is insensitive to serum calcium levels. We investigated whether this is a result of differential regulation of signaling pathways compared with parathyroid or calcitonin cells. METHODS: Gastrin release from primary cultures of human antral epithelial cells enriched for G cells (35%) was measured by radioimmunoassay. G cells were stimulated by increasing extracellular calcium concentration for 1 hour in the presence or absence of antagonists of specific intracellular signaling pathways. Intracellular calcium levels were monitored to evaluate the effect of the antagonists on calcium influx. RESULTS: Inhibition of phospholipase C decreased calcium-stimulated gastrin release, but blockers of adenylate cyclase, phospholipase A(2), or mitogen-activated protein kinase had no effect. Inhibition of protein kinase C, nonselective cation channels, and phosphodiesterase increased basal and calcium-stimulated gastrin release while decreasing calcium influx. These data were consistent with basally active phosphodiesterase. CONCLUSIONS: The calcium-sensing receptor on the G cell activates phospholipase C and opens nonselective cation channels, resulting in an influx of extracellular calcium. Protein kinase C isozymes expressed by the G cells play multiple roles regulating both gastrin secretion and phosphodiesterase activity.     

Gastrin, antral g cells, and gastric acid in secretagogue-induced and antihistamine-inhibited duodenal ulcers.

In fasting control rats there was continuous basal gastric acid secretion, with a low plasma gastrin and antral G-cells full or immunofluroescent gastrin. After subcutaneous infusion of the gastric secretagogues, pentagastrin + carbachol, there was a six-hour period of gastric hypersecretion, but no change in plasma and G-cell gastrin. Pretreatment with the antihistamine derivative, Pfizer UK-9040, decreased both basal and stimulated acid secretion, whereas plasma gastrin levels increased and the antral G-cells were emptied of gastrin. These results suggest that this antihistamine derivative decreases gastric acid secretion by a direct action on the parietal cells and not by reducing gastrin release from the G-cells. The increased release of gastrin from the G-cells may be secondary to decreased gastric acid production, or more probably by a direct stimulation of the antral G-cells.     

Effects of exogenous and endogenous bombesin on gastrin secretion from rat antral mucosa in tissue culture

Effects of exogenous and endogenous bombesin on gastrin secretion were examined using rat antral mucosa in tissue culture. Gastrin secretion was significantly stimulated by exogenous bombesin at a dose of 10(-8) M. Atropine 10(-6) M, which abolished the action of the cholinergic agent carbachol to stimulate gastrin secretion, had no effect on bombesin-stimulated gastrin secretion. In addition, gastrin secretion was significantly inhibited by anti-bombesin antiserum used to block the effect of endogenous bombesin by immunoneutralization. These findings suggest that the stimulation of gastrin secretion by bombesin does not involve cholinergic neural pathways and that endogenous bombesin exerts a continuous stimulation on gastrin secretion in the basal state.     

Tumour necrosis factor alpha antibody affects gastrin release in Crohn disease

BACKGROUND: Gastrin plays an important role in the regulation of gastric acid secretion in humans. Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) stimulates gastrin release from antral G cells in vitro. The aim was to determine whether gastrin release decreases in patients with Crohn disease treated with monoclonal antibody to TNF-alpha. METHODS: Twenty-five consecutive patients with Crohn disease (10 M, 15 F; 18 with fistulas) were treated with a single intravenous infusion of the monoclonal antibody to TNF-alpha, infliximab, at a dose of 5 mg/kg. Basal and bombesin stimulated gastrin was measured after an overnight fast immediately before and 2 weeks after infliximab. Helicobacter pylori status was determined by serology. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients were H. pylori-negative. Basal plasma gastrin was 21 (16-26) pmol/L before and 19 (15-25) pmol/L after infliximab (NS). Bombesin stimulated gastrin decreased from 49 (40-62) pmol/L before to 36 (33-59) pmol/L (P < 0.005) 2 weeks after infliximab. CONCLUSION: Gastrin release in response to bombesin decreases in patients with Crohn disease treated with infliximab.     

Gastrin cell function in familial multiple endocrine neoplasia type I.

Recent studies have suggested that patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type I (MEN I) may have abnormal serum gastrin secretion in the absence of gastrin producing tumours. G-(gastrin) cell function by three provocation tests in 20 patients with hyperparathyroidism from six MEN I-families were studied: each patient was an obligate carrier of the MEN I-gene. The serum gastrin response to secretin was used to identify the presence of gastrinoma, that to a test meal of G-cell hyperfunction of the antral and/or duodenal mucosa, and that to bombesin to differentiate antral from duodenal G-cell hyperfunction. Seven patients had basal hypergastrinaemia and hyperchlorhydria. These patients had increased serum gastrin responses to secretin (p less than 0.01) and to bombesin (p less than 0.02), but normal postprandial responses. In the 13 normogastrinaemic patients the responses to the three stimuli were normal. In families with MEN-I gastrinoma is the only endocrine disorder accounting for abnormal gastrin secretion. G-cell function is normal in obligate carriers of the MEN I-gene.     

Effects of H2-receptor antagonist on gastrin and somatostatin secretion of rat stomach

To investigate the effects of 14 days administration of H2-receptor antagonist (famotidine) on gastric gastrin and somatostatin secretion, bombesin and glucagon were perfused in the isolated pancreas-duodenum deprived rat stomach. Then serum gastrin concentration, gastric mucosal gastrin and somatostatin content, and gastric mucosal G-cell and D-cell numbers were examined. The 14 days administration of famotidine caused the significant increase of basal gastrin secretion, antral G-cell hyperplasia, high gastrin sensitivity to the stimulation by bombesin, and the low somatostatin sensitivity to the stimulation by glucagon. These facts would suggest that 14 days famotidine administration disturbed not only gastrin secretion but also somatostatin secretion. These results may contribute, at least in part, to the high recurrence of ulcers after withdrawal of H2-receptor antagonists.     

Role of gastrin in bombesin-stimulated somatostatin release

The intermediary pathways in the bombesin-induced somatostatin release were examined in isolated perfused rat stomach obtained from male rats that were fasted overnight. The stomachs were perfused by way of the celiac artery. On coinfusion of 1.0 mumol/L tetrodotoxin and 1 nmol/L bombesin, a significant depression in release of somatostatin was observed compared with that observed with bombesin alone. The 5-minute integrated somatostatin response after treatment with tetrodotoxin and bombesin was 173% +/- 14% of basal, which was significantly lower than that observed with bombesin alone (394% +/- 59% of basal, P less than 0.05) but significantly higher than that observed with medium-199 alone (95% +/- 7% of basal, P less than 0.05); this indicated that approximately 70% of the bombesin-stimulated somatostatin release was indirectly mediated through neural pathways, while a significant (approximately 30%) segment of it was mediated by nonneural mechanisms. To test if the 30% somatostatin release was secondary to gastrin release in response to bombesin, gastrin antiserum and bombesin (1 nmol/L) were coadministrated in the presence or absence of tetrodotoxin (1 mumol/L). Gastrin antiserum alone did not significantly affect basal release of somatostatin but caused a significant inhibition (approximately 23%) of bombesin-provoked somatostatin release. Coadministration of gastrin antiserum and tetrodotoxin attenuated bombesin-stimulated somatostatin release. Gastrin (1 mumol/L) alone significantly stimulated somatostatin release (150% +/- 10% of basal), which was completely attenuated in the presence of gastrin antiserum. Tetrodotoxin did not affect bombesin-elicited gastrin release, confirming that bombesin-stimulated gastrin release was directly mediated. To determine the nature of the neural pathways mediating the bombesin-induced somatostatin release, atropine (100 nmol/L) was used. Atropine inhibited bombesin-induced somatostatin release to the same extent as tetrodotoxin, indicating that cholinergic pathways mediated bombesin-induced somatostatin release. These results show that almost all the somatostatin response to bombesin is indirectly mediated, and is composed of a major neural (cholinergic) and a minor nonneural pathway. The nonneural mechanism appears to be contributed primarily by gastrin released in response to bombesin, which apparently has a short paracrine positive feedback effect on somatostatin release.     

Regulatory mechanism of bombesin on gastrin release

Bombesin has been demonstrated to stimulate gastrin release by an atropine-resistant mechanism. In the present study, the effects of truncal vagotomy and chemical sympathectomy on the gastrin release by exogenous and endogenous bombesin using rat antral mucosa in tissue culture were studied. Exogenous bombesin 10^-8 mol/l significantly stimulated gastrin release. The stimulation of gastrin release by bombesin was abolished by truncal vagotomy, but not altered by chemical sympathectomy. Bombesin antiserum inhibited gastrin release by blocking the effect of endogenous bombesin. The inhibition of gastrin release by bombesin antiserum was abolished by truncal vagotomy, but not altered by chemical sympathectomy. In addition, the concentrations of bombesin-like immunoreactivity in antral mucosa were not altered by truncal vagotomy. These results suggest that the mechanism of gastrin release by bombesin is influenced by non-cholinergic local nerves under vagal control.     

Release of transgenic human insulin from gastric g cells: a novel approach for the amelioration of diabetes

We explored the hypothesis that meal-regulated release of insulin from gastric G cells can be used for gene therapy for diabetes. We generated transgenic mice in which the coding sequence of human insulin has been knocked into the mouse gastrin gene. Insulin was localized specifically to antral G cells of G-InsKi mice by double immunofluorescence staining using antibodies against insulin and gastrin. Insulin extracted from antral stomach of G-InsKi mice decreased blood glucose upon injection into streptozotocin-diabetic mice. Intragastric administration of peptone, a known potent luminal stimulant of gastrin secretion, induced an increase in circulating levels of transgenic human insulin from 10.7 +/- 2 to 23.3 +/- 4 pm in G-InsKi mice. Although G cell-produced insulin decreased blood glucose in G-InsKi mice, it did not cause toxic hypoglycemia. Proton pump inhibitors, pharmacological agents that increase gastrin output, caused a further increase in the circulating levels of gastric insulin (41.5 +/- 2 pm). G cell-produced insulin was released into circulation in response to the same meal-associated stimuli that control release of gastrin. The most striking aspect of the results presented here is that in the presence of the G-InsKi allele, Ins2(Akita/+) mice exhibited a marked prolongation of life span. These results imply that G cell-derived transgenic insulin is beneficial in the amelioration of diabetes. We suggest that an efficient G cells-based insulin gene therapy can relieve diabetic patients from daily insulin injections and protect them from complications of insulin insufficiency while avoiding episodes of toxic hypoglycemia.     

Deficiency of the Intestinal Growth Factor,Glucagon-Like Peptide 2, in the Colon of SCID Mice with Inflammatory Bowel Disease Induced by Transplantation of CD4+ T Cells

Background: Gastrin plays an important role in the regulation of gastric acid secretion in humans. Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) stimulates gastrin release from antral G cells in vitro. The aim was to determine whether gastrin release decreases in patients with Crohn disease treated with monoclonal antibody to TNF-α. Methods: Twenty-five consecutive patients with Crohn disease (10?M, 15 F; 18 with fistulas) were treated with a single intravenous infusion of the monoclonal antibody to TNF-α, infliximab, at a dose of 5?mg/kg. Basal and bombesin stimulated gastrin was measured after an overnight fast immediately before and 2 weeks after infliximab. Helicobacter pylori status was determined by serology. Results: Twenty-two patients were H. pylori-negative. Basal plasma gastrin was 21 (16-26)?pmol/L before and 19 (15-25)?pmol/L after infliximab (NS). Bombesin stimulated gastrin decreased from 49 (40-62)?pmol/L before to 36 (33-59)?pmol/L (P?&;lt;?0.005) 2 weeks after infliximab. Conclusion: Gastrin release in response to bombesin decreases in patients with Crohn disease treated with infliximab.     

Interactions between antral peptides and prostaglandin biosynthesis in gastric acid regulation in man

The role of endogenous prostaglandins as modulators of antral hormone release and gastric acid secretion was studied in the intact human stomach. The subjects (n = 9) received indomethacin prior to gastric perfusion at pH greater than 7 or less than 2 and subsequent vagal stimulation. Indomethacin was also tested against parenteral somatostatin (n = 10) and pentagastrin (n = 8). The release of somatostatin into the circulation was biphasic after vagal stimulation, and the plasma levels were inversely proportional to those of plasma gastrin. Acidification of the gastric antrum from pH greater than 7 to less than 2 increased twofold the basal plasma levels of somatostatin (p less than 0.05) and suppressed basal and vagally stimulated gastrin release (p less than 0.05) and gastric acid secretion (p less than 0.05). Indomethacin prior to acidification had little effect in the basal state. Following stimulation the release of somatostatin increased, as indicated by a twofold elevation of somatostatinlike immunoreactivity in the gastric lumen (p less than 0.05), but there was less inhibition of plasma gastrin (p less than 0.05) and gastric acid secretion (p less than 0.05) as compared to acidification alone. During alkaline gastric perfusion, indomethacin increased circulating somatostatin (p less than 0.05) levels without affecting plasma gastrin or gastric acid. Indomethacin given against intravenously infused somatostatin (0.1 microgram.kg-1.h-1) partially reversed the inhibited gastrin response to vagal stimulation without affecting somatostatin-suppressed gastric acid secretion. The effects of indomethacin against pentagastrin were marginal. In conclusion: Gastric acidification in man stimulates plasma release of somatostatin in parallel to suppressing gastrin release and gastric acid secretion. Endogenous prostanoids participate to regulate antral hormone interactions and may have dual actions on antral somatostatin, as negative modulators of release and as mediators of somatostatin effects on the gastrin cell. It is suggested that an unrestricted release of antral somatostatin is reflected in the gastric lumen rather than in the circulation.     

Cholecystokinin inhibits gastrin secretion independently of paracrine somatostatin secretion in the pig

BACKGROUND: Cholecystokinin inhibits the secretion of gastrin from antral G cells, an effect that is speculated to be mediated by D cells secreting somatostatin. The aim of the study was to test directly whether cholecystokinin inhibition of antral gastrin secretion is mediated by somatostatin. METHODS: The effects of CCK on gastrin and somatostatin secretion were studied in isolated vascularly perfused preparations of pig antrum before and after immunoneutralization brought about by infusion of large amounts of a high affinity monoclonal antibody against somatostatin. RESULTS: CCK infusion at 10(-9) M and 10(-8) M decreased gastrin output to 70.5% +/- 7.6% (n = 8) and 76.3% +/- 3.6% (n = 7) of basal output, respectively. CCK at 10(-10) M had no effect (n = 6). Somatostatin secretion was dose-dependently increased by CCK infusion and increased to 268 +/- 38.2% (n = 7) of basal secretion during infusion of CCK at 10(-8) M. Immunoneutralization of somatostatin caused a doubling of the basal secretion of gastrin, but did not affect the CCK-induced decrease in gastrin secretion. CONCLUSION: CCK inhibits gastrin secretion independently of paracrine somatostatin secretion.     

Helicobacter pylori increases gastrin release from cultured canine antral G-cells

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanisms underlying the hypergastrinaemia of Helicobacter pylori by examining the effects of H. pylori on basal and stimulated gastrin release from cultured canine G-cells. METHODS: Canine antral G-cells were prepared by collagenase-EDTA digestion and cultured for 40 h. G-cells were then cultured for a further 24 h with two different H. pylori sonicates before basal and bombesin-stimulated gastrin release were measured by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Treatment of G-cells with both H. pylori sonicates significantly enhanced basal gastrin release (by 17-27%) and bombesin-stimulated gastrin release (by 115-133%). This effect was independent of cagA and vacuolating cytotoxin status. Control treatment with Escherichia coli sonicate had no effect on gastrin release. There was no change in the cellular content of gastrin. CONCLUSIONS: Incubation of antral G-cells with H. pylori constituents enhances subsequent basal and bombesin-stimulated gastrin release. Direct contact between H. pylori and G-cells in the gastric antrum may be responsible for the hypergastrinaemia seen with the infection.     

The changes of antral endocrine cells in Helicobacter pylori infection

AIM: To study the changes of antral endocrine cells in Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection, and to observe the relation between Hp infection and the number of gastrin (G) cells and somatostatin (D) cells. METHODS: Sixty-five cases, 18 with Hp infection and 47 without Hp, were analyzed by endoscopy and immunohistochemical staining of the antral mucosal biopsies using antibodies against chromogranin A, gastrin, somatostatin, and bombesin. The positive cells were quantitatively studied by an image analyzer. RESULTS: In the Hp infection group, the results were following: 71.28 G cells/mm², 5.32 D cells/mm², 8.68 bombesin positive cells/mm², and the G/D cell ratio was 13.40. By contrast, in the group without Hp infection, the number of G cells was 67.75/mm² while the number of D cells and bombesin positive cells were 13.65/mm² and 5.31/mm², respectively, with the ratio of G/D cells of 5.05. The difference in the number of D cells and the G/D cell ratio was statistically significant between the two groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The gastrin increase in patients with Hp infection may be due to the decrease in D cells and somatostatin secretion.     

Effect of loxiglumide on basal and gastrin- and bombesin-stimulated gastric acid and serum gastrin levels.

The effect of the specific cholecystokinin-receptor antagonist loxiglumide on basal and bombesin-, and gastrin 17-I-stimulated gastric acid secretion and serum gastrin levels was studied in 12 healthy subjects. Loxiglumide (10 mg.kg-1.h-1) significantly augmented basal gastric acid output from 1.8 +/- 0.3 to 3.9 +/- 0.6 mmol H+/h (P less than 0.005) but did not significantly influence integrated basal serum gastrin concentrations (2 +/- 21 vs. 32 +/- 21 pmol L-1.h-1). Both gastric acid secretion and integrated serum gastrin concentrations stimulated by bombesin infusion (92.6 pmol.kg-1.h-1) were significantly augmented by loxiglumide [from 4.0 +/- 0.3 to 10.0 +/- 1.3 mmol H+/h (P less than 0.005) and from 1251 +/- 93 to 2558 +/- 206 pmol.L-1.h-1 (P less than 0.005), respectively]. Gastric acid output and serum gastrin concentrations during infusion of 5 pmol.kg-1.h-1 of synthetic human gastrin 17-I (9.6 +/- 2.9 mmol H+/h and 1045 +/- 177 pmol.L-1.h-1) and during infusion of 15 pmol.kg-1.h-1 of gastrin 17-I (14.5 +/- 3.1 mmol H+/h and 2412 +/- 312 pmol.L-1.h-1) were not significantly influenced by loxiglumide (10.3 +/- 2.3 mmol H+/h and 1291 +/- 257 pmol.L-1.h-1 for the 5-pmol.kg-1.h-1 gastrin 17-I infusion dose with loxiglumide and 13.6 +/- 3.4 mmol H+/h and 2611 +/- 305 pmol.L-1.h-1 for the 15-pmol.kg-1.h-1 gastrin 17-I infusion dose with loxiglumide). These data indicate that endogenous cholecystokinin inhibits gastric acid secretion under basal conditions and gastrin release and gastric acid secretion during infusion of bombesin in humans and suggest that the augmented effect of loxiglumide on bombesin-stimulated gastric acid secretion may be explained largely by enhanced gastrin release.     

The effect on gastrin secretion of agents which increase the intracellular concentration of 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate.

An in vitro technique that allows study of gastrin secretion from isolated pieces of rat gastric antrum was used to study the effect on gastrin release of agents known to increase intracellular cAMP levels. Isuprel (10(-5)M), PGE1 (10(-5)M), theophylline (10(-4)M), and dibutyryl cAMP (5 X 10(-4)M) did not affect gastrin release when used alone, but each enhanced arginine-stimulated gastrin release. A biphasic pattern of gastrin release in response to arginine was seen in all experiments. The studies emphasize the close functional similarity between the antral G cells and the B cells of the pancreatic islet.