The Effect of Secretin on Plasma Gastrin in the Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome

Abstract

Schrumpf, E., Petersen, H., Berstad, A., Myren, J. & Rosenlund, B. 1973. The Effect of Secretin on Plasma Gastrin in the Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome. Scand. J. Gastroent. 8, 145-150.

Graded doses of secretin were given, on separate days, to 3 patients with the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. The gastrin level was determined by radioimmunoassay. A dose-dependent increase of the plasma gastrin concentration was found in response to infusion of secretin. The gastrin level was to a smaller degree increased by infusion of calcium. There was a small increase in serum calcium in response to the large doses of secretin, but this increase appeared after the increase in plasma gastrin. The findings suggest that secretin exerts an effect on the release or production of gastrin which is independent of an elevation of plasma calcium.

Key-words::

• Calcium
• gastric secretion
• gastrin
• secretin
• Zollinger-Ellison syndrome