The Effect of Cholinergic and Adrenergic Blockage on Basal and Pentagastrin-Induced Acid Secretion

Abstract

Basal acid secretion and the dose response curve to pentagastrin were studied before and after the administration of graded doses of atropine and propranolol in 20 duodenal ulcer patients. Atropine depressed basal and stimulated by lower doses of pentagastrin gastric acid secretion, whereas propranolol increased slightly only basal acid output. Maximal response to pentagastrin was not changed either by atropine or by propranolol but the tendency to shift the peak of the dose response curve to pentagastrin to the right in tests with atropine and to the left in study with propranolol was observed.