Reproducibility of Plasma Gastrin Concentration and Gastric Pepsin Output after Insulin-Induced Hypoglycaemia

Abstract

Elder, J. B., Walker, D. I., Ganguli, P. C. & Gillespie, I. E. Reproducibility of plasma gastrin concentration and gastric pepsin output after insulin-induced hypoglycaemia. Scand. J. Gastroent. 1974, 9, 731–734.

There have been many reports of changes in plasma gastrin concentration and in gastric pepsin output following insulin-induced hypoglycaemia in normal subjects and peptic ulcer patients, but reproducibility of these responses does not appear to have been studied. Acid output after insulin is reproducible. Plasma gastrin concentration and gastric pepsin output after insulin-induced hypoglycaemia were studied in 13 peptic ulcer patients on two occasions. Gastric pepsin output appeared reproducible, but the plasma gastrin response was much less consistent at the second test. Using the concept of the integrated gastrin response, significant correlation was obtained between first and second tests in our patients; however, the results cast doubt on the suitability of insulin as a stimulus for endogenous gastrin secretion.

Key-words::

• Duodenal ulcer
• gastrin
• insulin
• pepsin
• stomach