Effect of exogenous gut hormones on gastrointestinal mucosal growth.

Numerous GI hormones and peptides, such as gastrin, CCK, secretin, glucagon, somatostatin and EGF, have been shown to stimulate at least part of the trophic response in GI tissues. Whether any of these (or a different one) accounts for gastrointestinal adaptation is unknown. Final proof will entail the demonstration that the endogenous serum levels of one of these increases during the adaptation period to amounts significant to cause the response.