The effect of neurotensin and secretin on gastric acid secretion and mucosal blood flow in man

Neurotensin stimulates pancreatic secretion directly and by potentiating the effect of secretin. Neurotensin also inhibits gastric secretion. Secretin inhibits gastric secretion as well, but whether it also interacts with neurotensin is not known. Secretin is known to inhibit gastric mucosal blood flow (GMBF). The effect of neurotensin on GMBF is not known. Acid secretion (triple lumen perfused orogastric tube) and GMBF ([14C]aminopyrine clearance) were therefore measured in 6 subjects during neurotensin, secretin and neurotensin plus secretin infusions. Neurotensin plus secretin reduced acid secretion by a median 130 (range 34-394) mumol/min which was significantly greater than either neurotensin at 36 (7-67) mumol/min or secretin 54 (20-347) mumol/min alone (P less than 0.05). This effect appeared independent of GMBF. Neurotensin plus secretin reduced GMBF by 14 (12-27) ml/min but not significantly more than neurotensin at 11 (3-20) ml/min or secretin 18 (2-27) ml/min alone. Further, there was no correlation between changes in acid output and GMBF during infusion of the peptides. We conclude that the inhibitory effects of neurotensin and secretin on gastric secretion are at least additive and together they may function as an 'enterogastrone'.     

Effect of bombesin-stimulated gastrin on gastric acid secretion in man

The effect of bombesin on gastrin release and gastric acid secretion was investigated in 10 healthy volunteers. Bombesin (0.6 μg · Kg^?1 · hr^?1) produced a significantly higher $\text{(}\text{p}\text{<}\text{0.001)}$ increase in plasma gastrin levels (86.7 11.1 pmo/1 than after a protein meal (39.6 ± 5.6 pmol1/1). The gastric acid secretory response to bombesin (12.1 ± 2.9 mEq · hr^?1) was however significantly lower $\text{(}\text{p}\text{<}\text{0.005)}$ than the maximal response produced by pentagostrin (20.9 ± 3.5 mEq · hr^?1) at the dose of 6 μg · Kg^?1. Atropine did not modify gastrin release induced by bombesin but significantly reduced gastric acid secretion $\text{(}\text{p}\text{<}\text{0.01)}$. From the data presented it may be hypothesized that less biologically active forms of gastrin and/or other peptides inhibiting the gastrin effect upon gastric acid secretion may be released by bombesin.     

Inhibition of gastric acid secretion in dogs by neurotensin

Neurotensin is a tridacapeptide which has been isolated from bovine hypothalamus. The action of synthetic neurotensin was studied on gastric acid secretion in dogs provided with gastric pouches. Intravenously infused neurotensin, 50 ng × kg^?1 × min^?1, was found to produce a considerable inhibition of pentagastrin stimulated gastric acid secretion. On the other hand, there was no sign of inhibition of histamine induced gastric acid secretion. The experiments show that neurotensin, isolated from the central nervous system is a potent gastric secretory inhibitor and that it has a selective action in inhibiting gastric acid responses to pentagastrin but not to histamine.     

Effect of hypophysectomy, adrenalectomy, pituitary hormone secretion and gastric acid secretion on neurotensin induced gastric protection against stress gastric lesions

In previous studies we have established that intracisternal (i.c.) but not peripheral (intravenous) administration of neurotensin (NT), a brain and gastrointestinal tridecapeptide, totally prevents the development of gastric lesions produced by cold-restraint stress (CRS) with food-deprived rats. In this investigation, removal of the pituitary and adrenal gland, anterior pituitary hormone secretion and gastric acid secretion were evaluated independently as potential intermediates for NT's protective effect. NT (30 micrograms) produced a significant reduction of gastric lesions incidence and severity in intact and sham-operated controls. Adrenalectomy, but not hypophysectomy totally blocked the protective effect of i.c. NT. In addition, replacement therapy with s.c. prednisone (1 mg/kg) for 5 days following adrenalectomy did not restore the protective activity of central (i.c.) NT in adrenalectomized rats. A significant reduction of serum levels of TSH, PRL and GH following i.c. NT (30 micrograms) was observed after 2h of CRS. The gastrosecretory studies revealed that i.c. NT (30 micrograms) did not affect gastric acid secretion in pylorus ligated rats. However, blockade of peripheral (gut) cholinergic (muscarinic) receptors with i.p. atropine methylbromide (1 mg/kg) significantly raised gastric pH and reduced gastric acid concentration and output. In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that the acute protective effect of brain NT appears to be mediated, at least in part, by the sympathoadrenomedullary axis, and not by the pituitary gland or substances derived from the pituitary or by inhibition of gastric acid secretion.     

Oral PGE2 inhibits gastric acid secretion in man

The effect of oral prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) on gastric acid secretion was examined in healthy subjects. The gastric secretion was stimulated by a modified shamfeeding procedure. Each subject underwent one control test and three tests with intragastrically administered graded doses of PGE2: 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg. Oral PGE2 significantly suppressed the peak and total acid response to vagal stimulation. The total acid output in controls was 27.5 +/- 3.2 mmol/90 min and 20.8 +/- 2.8, 15.8 +/- 2.2 (p less than 0.01) and 15.9 +/- 3.8 (p less than 0.005) mmol/90 min in test series with 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg PGE2 respectively. The two higher doses were equally inhibitory to an average 40%. Gastric outputs of sodium and potassium in response to modified shamfeeding were reduced by PGE2. In controls there was a significant release of plasma-gastrin in response to shamfeeding. Plasma-gastrin was apparently suppressed after the two lower doses of PGE2 but 2.0 mg PGE2 gave an elevation similar to controls. Thus the study demonstrates that oral natural PGE2 suppresses the gastric acid secretion in man. The absence of such an effect in prior studies has been one of the objections against an acid regulatory action of endogenously formed prostaglandins. The present results do not support this argument.     

Effect of neurotensin on pancreatic function in man

The effect of neurotensin on submaximally-stimulated hepatobiliary and pancreatic secretion was studied in 6 healthy subjects. An intravenous infusion of neurotensin 1.4 ± 0.3 pmol/kg/min, designed to reproduce plasma neurotensin immunoreactivity levels within the physiological range, produced a significant increase in pancreatic bicarbonate output. Plasma concentrations of pancreatic polypeptide rose by 83 ± 16 pmol/l and were associated with a small reduction in trypsin, but no significant change in bilirubin outputs.     

Peptide histidine valine-42 stimulates gastric acid secretion in man

The effect of peptide histidine valine-42 (PHV-42) on gastric acid secretion was studied in man. PHV-42 was infused into 5 healthy volunteers at a dose of 10 pmol/kg/min. This dose caused a significant stimulation of basal gastric acid and potassium output. there were no significant changes in circulating gastrin throughout the infusion. In 2 subjects with a background of submaximal pentagastrin stimulation, PHV-42 infusion at the same dose did not alter acid secretion in either subject. The previous observation that PHV-42 is found particularly in the stomach and the new finding that it stimulates basal gastric secretion suggest the possibility that PHV-42 could have a role in local control of acid secretion.     

Inhibition of gastric acid secretion and mucosal blood flow induced by intraventricularly applied neurotensin in rats

To investigate the central effect of neurotensin in gastric functions, changes in gastric acid secretion and mucosal blood flow (MBF) following administration were examined in rats anesthetized with urethane. Neurotensin in doses 1–10 μg/animal injected into the lateral ventricle decreased the basal value of both gastric acid output and MBF. This effect of neurotensin on these gastric parameters was completely blocked by pretreatment of animals with reserpine (2 mg/kg, i.p., 24 hr) or 6-OH-dopamine (250 μg/animal, intraventricularly, 10–14 days). These results indicate that exogenously applied neurotensin induces an inhibition of gastric functions by a central mechanism and suggest that an interaction exists between central catecholamines and the effect of neurotensin on gastric functions.     

Effect of atrial peptide on gastric acid secretion in rats

The effect of synthetic rat atriopeptin (AP) II was examined on basal, vagally and carbachol-induced gastric acid secretion in anesthetized rats. AP II infusion, at stepwise increasing doses of 2, 20 and 100 ng/kg/min, had no effect on basal acid secretion. At doses of 2 and 20 ng/kg/min, AP II augmented vagally induced acid secretion significantly. The secretory response to vagal stimulation + AP II 20 ng/kg/min was completely abolished by atropine. In contrast a higher dose of AP II (50 ng/kg/h) reduced vagally induced acid secretion significantly. This dose of AP II also reduced acid secretion during direct cholinergic stimulation by carbachol, while the lower dose of 20 ng/kg/min had no effect on carbachol-induced acid secretion. The present data demonstrate for the first time an effect of atrial peptide on gastric acid secretion. At lower doses AP II augments the vagal influence on parietal cell function perhaps by augmenting vagally induced acetylcholine release. At higher doses AP II exerts an inhibitory effect on parietal cell function during vagally and carbachol-induced acid secretion, suggesting different and as yet unknown mechanisms of action. These results raise the possibility that the heart can exert a hormonally mediated influence on the regulation of gastric acid secretion.     

Calcitonin and secretin inhibit bombesin-stimulated serum gastrin and gastric acid secretion in man

The effect of intravenously administered calcitonin and secretin on bombesin-stimulated serum gastrin and gastric acid secretion was studied in 7 volunteers. Secretin G.I.H. (1 C.U./kg per h) and calcitonin (0.5 I.U./kg per h) significantly ($\text{P < 0.05}$) inhibited the serum gastrin and gastric acid responses to bombesin-14 (90 pmol/kg per h). Inhibition of gastrin release could not fully account for the inhibition of gastric acid secretion.     

Oral PGE2 inhibits gastric acid secretion in man

The effect of oral prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) on gastric acid secretion was examined in healthy subjects. The gastic secretion was stimulated by a modified shamfeeding procedure. Each subject underwent one control test and three tests with intragastrically administered graded doses of PGE₂: 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg.Oral PGE₂ significantly suppressed the peak and total acid response to vagal stimulation. The total acid output in controls was 27.5 ± 3.2 mol/90 min and 20.8 ± 2.8, 15.8 ± 2.2 (p<0.01) and 15.9±3.8 (p<0.005)mol/90 min in test series with 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg PGE₂ respectively. The two higher doses were equally inhibitory to an average 40%. Gastric outputs on sodium and potassium in response to modified shamfeeding were reduced by PGE₂.In controls there was a significant release of plasma-gastrin in response to shamfeeding. Plasma-gastrin was apparently suppressed after the two lower doses of PGE₂ but 2.0 mg PGE₂ gave an elevation similar to controls.Thus the study demonstrates that the oral natural PGE₂ suppresses the gastric acid secretion in man. The absence of such an effect in prior studies has been one of the objections against an acid regulatory action of endogenously formed prostaglandins. The present results do not support this argument.     

Effect of oral nalmefene, an opiate-receptor antagonist, on meal-stimulated gastric acid secretion and serum gastrin concentration in man

We evaluated whether nalmefene, an orally administered opiate-receptor antagonist, would inhibit gastric acid secretion in response to a meal in healthy humans. On separate days either 50 mg nalmefene or a placebo tablet was administered by mouth 90 min before a blenderized steak meal was infused into the stomach through a nasogastric tube. Compared to placebo, nalmefene inhibited meal-stimulated acid secretion in each of 6 subjects studied (P less than 0.05). During the second and third hours after the meal, nalmefene inhibited mean acid secretion by 16%. Nalmefene also resulted in significantly higher meal-stimulated serum gastrin concentrations than placebo (P less than 0.05) even though intragastric pH was kept constant at 5.0 in both experiments. These studies indicate that an orally administered opiate-receptor antagonist can inhibit gastric acid secretion in response to a meal in humans, yet increase meal-stimulated serum gastrin concentrations.