Effect of human gastrin infusion on gastric potential difference in man.

Human gastrin I heptadecapeptide, infused intravenously to healthy volunteers in a dose of 0.5 micrograms/kg/hr, caused a prompt, significant reduction in gastric potential difference (decrease of mucosal negativity), with the peak change at 6 min. This decline in potential difference occurred at a time when the serum gastrin level was between 24 and 83 pg/ml; at the same time, scanning electron microscopic examination of fractographs of parietal cells demonstrated marked increase in canalicular membrane area. This study shows that the decrease in potential difference after gastrin occurs with serum gastrin levels which are in the physiologic range.