Effects of pirenzepine and atropine on gastric secretory and plasma hormonal responses to sham-feeding in patients with duodenal ulcer.

The effects of atropine and pirenzepine on sham-feeding stimulated gastric secretion and serum gastrin and pancreatic polypeptide levels have been studied in 12 patients with duodenal ulcer. Both atropine and pirenzepine caused a dose-dependent decrease in acid and pepsin secretion induced by sham-feeding. Serum gastrin response to sham-feeding was negative and it was enhanced by atropine but suppressed by pirenzepine. Plasma pancreatic polypeptide level, which was markedly increased by sham-feeding, was abolished both by atropine and pirenzepine. This study shows that pirenzepine is a more selective inhibitor of gastric secretory and serum hormonal responses to sham-feeding than atropine and that it may be a useful tool for studying the cholinergic innervation of the oxyntic glands and the G-cells in man.