Effect of epinephrine and norepinephrine on gastrin release and gastric secretion of acid in man.

To study the physiological importance of epinephrine and norpinephrine for gastrin release and gastric secretion of acid the effect of intravenous infusions was investigated. Two doses were used (5 and 50 mg per kg per minute in one hour), the low dose of epinephrine and both doses of epinephrine (n=20) stimulated gastrin release and acid secretion, whereas the high dose (n=8) stimulated the gastrin release strongly, but did not change acid secretion. Norepinephrine in the low dose (n=11) caused a very small increase in gastrin release and no change in acid secretion, whereas the high dose (n=11) inhibited acid secretion without any change in gastrin concentration. No postoperative change was observed in the release of gastrin by both doses of epinephrine after truncal vagotomy in sex and seven patients with duodenal ulcer. It is concluded that epinephrine and norepinephrine both may be of importance in the physiological regulation of gastrin release and gastric acid secretion.