Correlation between endocrine function and gastric secretion (I) influences of pepsinogen upon the pituitary-adrenocortical function

Abstract

Various studies have been reported for secretory mechanism of gast r ic pepsinogen under influence of hypothalamo-pituitary-adreno cortical control, but the exact mechanism sti l l remains unknown. The present s tudies were under taken to invest igate physiological effect of pepsinogen in conjunction with the pi tu i tary adrenocortical function. Dogs were used under pentobarbi ta l anesthesia dividing into th ree groups. 1) Normal group: Exogenous pure crysta l l ine pepsinogen in saline (0"02 mg/kg) was adminis tered in t ravenously to normal subjects for 30 minutes to demonst ra te a marked increase in the serum pepsinogen level f rom the beginning, and increased excret ion of ur inary to ta l 17-hydroxyeorticosteroid and Uropepsin per hour were demonstra ted for the period of one hour af ter the intravenous infusion ended. Simultaneously, hourly out-put of acid and pepsin in the gast r ic juice was moderate ly increased. The resul ts were approximately three t imes than the average value. 2) In dogs with no blood supply to the s tomach devised by ligation, a s imi lar resul ts were obtained for the hourly excretion of uropepsin and ur inary total 17-hydroxycortieosteroids. In this group the plasma free 17-hydroxycorticosteroids levels f rom the adrenal blood increased markedly dur ing pepsinogen infusion. 3) In bi lateral ly adrenectomized dogs, hour ly excretion of uropepsin and output of acid and pepsin in the gastr ic juice were minimal. In s ta t is t ica l analysis significant correlat ion (p<0.05, 7=0.71) was noted between maximal excret ion of uropepsin per hour and ur inary total 17-hydroxycorticosteroids in normal subjects. In view of the above findings, it seems to assume f rom the homeosta t ic s tand point tha t there may be "nega t i ve feed back m e c h a n i s m " concerning to the re la t ion of the secret ion of pepsinogen and pi tui tary-adreno cortical function. Correlat ion between endocr ine funct ion and gast r ic secretion under effect of pepsinogen infusion on antrectomized-denervated-, or hypophysectomized dogs will be reported in future.