The influences of propranolol on serum gastrin concentration and hydrochloric acid secretion in response to hypoglycemia in normal subjects.

In ten normal subjects the effect of propranolol on serum gastrin concentration and HC1 secretion during insulin hypoglycemia (0.2 U/kg) was studied. Under the influence of propranolol (50 mug/kg intravenously in 3 min) the gastrin response to insulin was abolished. The insulin-induced HC1 secretion was reduced by propranolol from 38 to 18 mEq/2h (p less than 0.01). These results are compatible with the hypothesis of beta-adrenergic stimulation on serum gastrin concentration and HC1 secretion during insulin hypoglycemia.