Potassium in Histamine-Stimulated Gastric Secretion in Man

Abstract

Summary 1.Shortly after the stimulation by histamine of gastric acid secretion in man there is a consistent and significant rise in the potassium concentration of the gastric contents. 2.This rise in potassium concentration usually precedes that for acid and then falls to sub-baseline levels without regard to changes in acid concentration. 3.The changes in potassium concentration are not correlated, in time with the changes in concentration of acid, sodium, or total chloride. 4.Since the potassium concentration of gastric juice is not constant, potassium is not necessarily secreted by the cellular source of the primary acid secretion, as proposed by previous investigators. The absence of correlation between concentrations of potassium and acid suggests that the movement of potassium into the gastric lumen is not an integral part of the primary acid secretion of the stomach.