Response of basal and pentagastrin-stimulated gastric secretion and of serum gastrin to short- and long-term intravenous infusion of salmon calcitonin in hyperchlorhydric subjects.

In 23 volunteers with gastric hyperchlorhydria the effect of intravenous administration of salmon calcitonin (SMC) on basal (n = 11) and pentagastrin-stimulated gastric secretion (n = 12) and on immunoreactive serum gastrin (n = 11) was studied under various experimental conditions. SMC (0.075 microgram . kg(-1) . 2h(-1) and 0.3 microgram . kg(-1) . h(-1)) caused a statistically significant reduction of HCl output of 75% and 80% and of pepsin of 55% and 90%. Serum gastrin concentration showed a dose-dependent decrease of 17% and 31% respectively. Pentagastrin-stimulated acid secretion was moderately inhibited by short-term administration of SMC (0.15 and 0.30 microgram . kg(-1) . 30 min(-1)), the effect being confined to the period of application of the hormone. Long-term infusion of the smaller dose for 2 1/2 h induced a sustained decrease of HCl output by 55%. It is assumed that SMC inhibits gastric secretion mainly by interfering with the production or liberation, or both, of gastrin. Whether long-term administration of SMC has advantages over substances currently used as therapeutic inhibitors of gastric secretion, e.g. in gastroduodenal bleeding, has yet to be investigated.