Duodenal Acid Is without Importance for the Postprandial PP Release

Abstract

In six healthy subjects duodenal infusion of 30 ml 100 mmol/l HCl caused a slight, but significant, release of plasma pancreatic polypeptide (PP), whereas infusion of 3 g dried cattle bile dissolved in 30 ml distilled water did not affect basal plasma PP levels. In another group of six healthy subjects the postprandial plasma PP release was not affected by inhibition of the gastric H⁺ secretion by the H₂-receptor antagonist ranitidine. Finally, the meal-induced plasma PP release in a group of 19 achlorhydric patients did not differ significantly from that seen in 11 normal controls. We therefore conclude that, although duodenal acidification may elicit release of plasma PP, gastric H⁺ secretion seems to be without importance for the postprandial plasma PP release.

Key-words:

• Achlorhydria
• gastric secretion
• pancreatic polypeptide (PP)