Gastric acid secretion controlled by oestrogen in women.

Gastric acid outputs were measured and related to plasma oestradiol concentrations in women. An inverse relationship between the acid output and the oestradiol concentrations was detected regardless of the stage of the menstrual cycle. It was also noted that the acid output was reduced in a dose-dependent manner after oral administration of conjugated oestrogen and that the response was partially blocked by atropine sulphate. These findings suggest that oestrogen participates in the control of gastric acid secretion in women and that a cholinergic action is involved in the mode of action.