GASTRIC MUCOSAL HISTAMINE IN DUODENAL-ULCER PATIENTS - RELEASE BY SECRETIN

Abstract

In 5 duodenal-ulcer patients with anaphylactic skin reaction to intradermal secretin and in 4 healthy controls, biopsy samples from the fundic region of the stomach were superfused with phosphate buffer alone and with phosphate buffer containing 20 C.U./ml synthetic secretin. In response to secretin, the mucosa from duodenal-ulcer patients released significantly increasing amounts of histamine (P < 0.05) whereas control tissue did not respond. In duodenal-ulcer patients the histamine content of untreated gastric mucosa was about twice as high as in controls (P < 0.02). The elevated mucosal histamine could account for the basal and stimulated gastric hypersecretion of duodenal-ulcer patients. In a certain type of duodenal ulceration, secretion apparently drives rather than inhibits gastric secretion.