Comparison of gastric inhibitory properties of two secretin preparations

¹ Section of Surgical Research, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota

Commercial preparations of secretin inhibit gastric secretion of Heidenhain pouches in response to certain stimuli. Since these preparations are mucosal extracts and not pure secretin, inhibition could be due to active materials other than secretin present in the extracts. To determine whether other active substances were present, two commercial secretin preparations, which were markedly different in weight per unit of pancreatic secretagogic activity, were tested for their relative abilities to stimulate pancreatic secretion in dogs with Thomas cannulas and to inhibit gastric secretion of Heidenhain pouches stimulated by exogenous gastrin in totally gastrectomized dogs. Inhibition of gastric secretion occurred with both preparations. The ratio between the weight of extract required to inhibit gastric secretion and that required to stimulate pancreatic secretion was the same for the two preparations despite the great differences in weights necessary to produce equivalent stimulation of the pancreas. This supports the concept that the same factor, either secretin or a closely related substance, accounted for both of these effects.

Key Words: gastrointestinal hormones • secretin • gastric secretion, experimental • gastric secretion, inhibition

Submitted on August 2, 1963