The interrelations of gastrin release, antral gastrin concentration and acid secretion rate.

The interrelations of meal stimulated gastrin release, antral gastrin concentration (AGC) and acid secretion rate were examined in a heterogenous group of 72 patients, Gastrin release calculated as the integrated gastrin output was directly related to AGC, r = 0.50 (p less than 0.001) and inversely related to maximum acid output (MAO), r = -0.31 (p less than 0.01). The relation between integrated gastrin output and AGC was significant in 21 patients with low acid secretion rates (MAO: less than 10 mEq/h), r = 0.66 (p less than 0.01) and in 27 patients with normal acid secretion rates (MAO: 10-25 mEq/h), r = 0.56 (p less than 0.05), but not in 24 patients with high acid secretion rates (MAO: greater than 25 mEq/h), r= 0.35 (p greater than 0.05). A weak inverse relation between AGC and MAO may exist in patients with low acid secretion rates, r = -0.40 (p less than 0.10). Considered together using multiple regression procedures AGC and MAO explained less than one-half of the variability in meal stimulated gastrin release.