Sex, gonads, sex hormones and histamine-stimulated gastric acid and serum pepsinogen.

OBJECTIVE AND

DESIGN

The effects of sex, sex hormones and gonads were studied in dogs because men secrete more acid than woman and duodenal ulcer is commoner in men and remits in pregnancy and after stilboestrol.

MATERIAL: Four male and 4 female greyhounds with chronic gastric fistulas were tested.

METHODS

Histamine was infused i.v. 1-16 micrograms/min and plateau acid output measured in the last 30 min of each 60 min infusion.

TREATMENT: The gonads were then removed and secretion retested. The orchidectomised dogs were then given stilboestrol 2 mg daily (+/-progesterone 25 mg i.m. three times a week) and the oophorectomised bitches given testosterone propionate 25 mg twice weekly i.m. and secretion again retested.

RESULTS

Submaximal and maximal acid outputs (and serum pepsinogen) of dogs and bitches were similar and correlated with body weight. Gonadectomy did not alter these functions nor did hormones of the opposite sex given for 1-12 months.

CONCLUSIONS

In the dog, as in the rat, and probably in man, histamine-stimulated gastric acid output is a function of body size and not of sex.