EFFECT OF PENTAGASTRIN ON GASTRIC BICARBONATE SECRETION IN PATIENTS WITH DUODENAL-ULCER AND HEALTHY CONTROLS

We studied the gastric acid and bicarbonate secretion rates in 12 pati ents with duodenal ulcer and 6 age matched healthy controls. Measureme nts of gastric juice volume (nonparietal and parietal), acidity and os molality were done. The ulcer patients secreted more acid, parietal an d nonparietal fluid than controls under basal conditions and after sub cutaneous pentagastrin injection (6 mu g/kg body weight). However, the gastric bicarbonate secretion was similar in the duodenal ulcer patie nts and controls, both under basal state as well as after pentagastrin stimulation. The gastric acidity was similar in ulcer patients and co ntrol subjects under both the states (49.3+/-4.5 vs 50.0+/-6.0 mmol/l basally, 85.2+/-8.9 vs 63.4+/-6.6 mmol/l after pentagastrin injection respectively). Thus, gastric bicarbonate secretion was similar, wherea s parietal and nonparietal volume secretions were increased in patient s with duodenal ulcer as compared to controls.