The effect on gastrin secretion of agents which increase the intracellular concentration of 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate.

An in vitro technique that allows study of gastrin secretion from isolated pieces of rat gastric antrum was used to study the effect on gastrin release of agents known to increase intracellular cAMP levels. Isuprel (10(-5)M), PGE1 (10(-5)M), theophylline (10(-4)M), and dibutyryl cAMP (5 X 10(-4)M) did not affect gastrin release when used alone, but each enhanced arginine-stimulated gastrin release. A biphasic pattern of gastrin release in response to arginine was seen in all experiments. The studies emphasize the close functional similarity between the antral G cells and the B cells of the pancreatic islet.