The assay of gastrin using the perfused rat stomach.

1. A method is described for the bio-assay of gastric secretagogues using the perfused rat stomach in which the acid output can be readily and accurately quantified.2. This technique increases the sensitivity of the perfused rat stomach so that 10-20 ng of synthetic human gastrin I can be detected.3. It is possible to assay secretagogues, relative to a standard with fiducial limits of less than +/-30%.4. The use of this system is illustrated by assays comparing synthetic human gastrin I with pentagastrin, pure hog gastrin and gastrin added to plasma.