Beta-adrenergic receptors and the effect of beta-adrenergic blocking agent propranolol on histamine and reserpine stimulated gastric acid secretion in man: normals and duodenal ulcer cases.

The effects of the beta adrenergic stimulant drug, "Nylidrin", and the beta adrenergic blocking agent, "Propranolol", on human basal gastric acid secretion were studied in 20 healthy volunteer subjects and 10 chronic D.U. cases. Nylidrin increased gastric acid secretion and volume. All effects of nylidrin were blocked by prior administration of beta adrenergic inhibitor propranolol. Propranolol diminished both acid secretion and volume in both normal and D.U. cases. The presence of beta adrenergic receptors in the human stomach was suggested. The effects of beta adrenergic blocking agent propranolol on gastric secretion, stimulated with histamine, were studied in 10 normal subjects and 10 cases of chronic duodenal ulcer patients. Pretreatment with propranolol produced a signigicant depression of the 90 minute acid response to histamine in both volume and acidity in normals and duodenal ulcer cases. It is concluded that propranolol has an antisecretory effect, not only on basal gastric secretion but also on histamine stimulated secretion in man. Reserpine stimulated gastric acid secretion and volume in normals but showed no similar effect in D.U. cases. After pretreatment with propranolol it reduces the gastric acid secretion and volume in normals and D.U. cases.