Inhibition of gastrin release and gastric secretion by calcitonin in patients with peptic ulcer

Abstract

We studied the effect of an intravenous infusion of calcitonin (2 MRCU/kg) on gastric secretion and serum gastrin and serum calcium levels in eight normal subjects, six patients with duodenal ulcer disease, three patients with primary hyperparathyroidism, six patients with histologically proved Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, and three patients with the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and hyperparathyroidism. Gastric secretion was greatly inhibited in all groups of patients. Serum calcium was significantly diminished only in patients with hypercalcemia. Serum gastrin levels were depressed in all patients with elevated basal gastrin levels (DU, HPT, Z-E, and ZE + HPT). In normal subjects calcitonin inhibited strongly the serum gastrin response to food. These findings suggest that calcitonin may have a regulatory function in the release or catabolism of the hormone gastrin.