Defective inhibition of gastrin release by antral distension in duodenal ulcer patients.

The gastrin response to a low and a high dose of gastrin-releasing peptide infusion was studied in healthy volunteers and in patients with duodenal ulcer disease. In duodenal ulcer patients, the gastrin response was exaggerated. Cholinergic blockade did not change the gastrin release in healthy volunteers. Antrum distension during neutralization of the gastric lumen was unable to stimulate gastrin release, also under cholinergic blockade. However, in healthy volunteers distension of the antrum significantly inhibited the gastrin response to gastrin-releasing peptide infusion. This inhibitory influence was most pronounced in patients given the lower dose of the neuropeptide. Cholinergic blockade counteracted the inhibitory effect exerted by antral distension. On the other hand, antral distension did not alter the gastrin response to gastrin-releasing peptide in patients with duodenal ulcer disease. These results suggest an additional defective inhibitory mechanism in duodenal ulcer patients.