The effect of selective and non-selective cholinergic blockade on bombesin- and peptone-stimulated gastrin release.

We have studied the effects of the selective muscarinic M1-receptor antagonist pirenzepine and the non-selective muscarinic antagonist atropine on bombesin- and peptone-stimulated gastrin release in healthy subjects. Pirenzepine (i. v. bolus 0.6 mg/kg) and atropine (i. v. bolus 15 micrograms/kg, followed by an infusion of 5 micrograms.kg-1.h-1) were given in doses equipotent in terms of reduction of gastric acid secretion. Neither affected bombesin- or peptone-stimulated gastrin release. These findings do not support the involvement of M1-receptors in the cholinergic regulation of gastrin release and suggest that the reduction in acid secretion caused by pirenzepine is not mediated by inhibition of gastrin release.