Effects of stress and drugs on the catecholamine and pepsin concentrations in stomach wall of rat.

Reserpine, serotonin, and histamine as well as stress were employed to produced dystrophic lesions in the gastric mucosa of rats. Analysis of stomach tissues revealed that agencies which reduced catecholamine concentration also decreased endogenous levels of pepsinogen. Concentrations of the zymogen were increased after parenteral administration of dopa, but were not changed by injections of alpha-methyl-dopa. The evidence supports the suggestion that catecholamines participate in the control of pepsin production and are involved in the secretory function of the stomach.