Effect of Arginine Infusion on Endogenous Pancreatic Glucagon and Gastric Acid Secretion in Duodenal Ulcer Patients and Normal Subjects

Abstract

The effect of i.v. infusion of L-arginine on pentagastrin-stimulated gastric acid secretion was studied in 5 duodenal ulcer patients and 12 healthy subjects. In the 2 groups L-arginine enhanced plasma concentrations of pancreatic glucagon equally and to levels similar to those seen after a protein-rich meal and inhibited the acid response in duodenal ulcer patients and in normal subjects. Pancreatic glucagon is apparently a physiological inhibitor of gastric acid secretion. The hypothesis of a defect in this inhibitory system in duodenal ulcer patients is not corroborated.