The Role of the Beta‐Adrenergic Receptor in the Secretion of Gastrin: Studies in Normal Subjects and in Patients with Duodenal Ulcers

Abstract

I.v. infusion of isoproterenol, a .beta.-adrenergic receptor stimulatory agent, increased serum gastrin concentration significantly more in patients with a duodenal ulcer than in healthy subjects. The rise in pulse rate, blood glucose concentration and in serum insulin was the same in both groups of subjects. Gastrin secretion was also increased significantly more in the patients than in the control subjects after a beef-meal. Basal serum gastrin concentrations were higher in the patients than in the control subjects and correlated to the rise in serum gastrin during both tests in the patients with a duodenal ulcer. Isoproterenol and meal stimulated gastrin secretion, expressed as percent of the basal value, were twice as high in the patients as in the control subjects. The combined administration of isoproterenol and the meal had an additive effect on the rise in serum gastrin. Isoproterenol stimulated gastrin secretion was completely suppressed by propranolol, a .beta.-adrenergic receptor blocking agent, which had no effect on meal stimulated gastrin secretion. The mechanism of the hypersecretion of gastrin in patients with a duodenal ulcer did not involve a specific abnormality of the .beta.-adrenergic receptor or the receptor which recognized proteins and their digested products. There is no established role of .beta.-adrenergic receptor activity in the hypersecretion of gastrin in patients with duodenal ulcers. The .beta.-adrenergic receptor may have some yet unknown function unrelated to the acute secretory response of gastrin.