Gastric secretion of acid and intrinsic factor during histamine infusion in 14 cases of duodenal ulcer.

Abstract

The secretion of hydrochloric acid and of intrinsic factor was studied in 14 subjects with chronic duodenal ulcer before and during six 15 minutes periods of intravenous histamine infusion. The amount of infused histamine was increased with every 15 minutes period. The volume of gastric juice increased successively during the first four periods and was maximal and equal in the last three periods of increasing histamine stimulation. The secretion of hydrochloric acid increased steadily during the increasing rate of histamine infusion, reaching a maximal and equal output in the last two periods. The concentration of intrinsic factor, however, was maximal in the first period and decreased steadily in the following periods of histamine stimulation. The output of intrinsic factor was maximal during the first three periods and decreased during the following periods in spite of increasing rate of histamine infusion. Since the volume of gastric juice was maximal and equal during the last three periods the fall in intrinsic factor concentration was more marked than the decrease in its output. The concentration of intrinsic factor in the last period was lower than basally. These results indicate that histamine causes a ‘wash‐out’ of stored intrinsic factor. The output of intrinsic factor was, however, still significantly higher than basally even 75–90 minutes after the histamine infusion had started. This could be due to a late ‘wash‐out’ mechanism or to a stimulation of intrinsic factor production and secretion.