| Abstract: | The basal production of hydrochloric acid, pepsin, the level of immunoreactive gastrin-17 in the blood serum and gastric juice, endocrine G-, EcI- and Ec-cells of the gastric mucosa were studied in 42 patients with duodenal peptic ulcer. Patients with a negative atropine test were characterized by a high production of hydrochloric acid, hypergastrinemia, an elevated secretion of gastrin with gastric juice, hyperplasia of G- and EcI-cells. In a positive atropine test these indices were lower with the exception of a great amount of Ec-cells in the antral mucosa. Thus the atropine test reflected the functional-morphological arrangement of the secretory apparatus of the gastric mucosa and was of diagnostic value. |
