Pancreatic polypeptide release in gastric ulcer.

The pancreatic polypeptide (PP) response to a protein-rich meal has been studied in similarly aged patients with gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, and controls. The response of the gastric ulcer patients was significantly lower at all points than that of the duodenal ulcer patients or controls, which were similar to one another. Vagal stimulation is probably the single most important factor in PP release, and it is possible that diminished PP release in the gastric ulcer patients is a reflection of vagal underactivity.