Inhibitory action of enprostil (4,5-dehydro-16-phenoxy-17,18,19,20-tetranor-PGE2) on tetra-gastrin stimulated acid secretion in human subjects.

A double-blind study was conducted to examine the effect of enprostil on tetra-gastrin stimulated gastric acid secretion in twelve healthy male volunteers. Each subject underwent four tests in random order on separate days with oral doses of 15, 25, 35 micrograms enprostil and placebo. After measuring basal secretion and gastrin release, tetra-gastrin was injected intramuscularly. Gastric secretion and gastrin release were measured over the next two hours. Enprostil dose-dependently inhibited tetragastrin stimulated gastric secretion volume, acid and pepsin output. There were significant differences in gastric acid secretion inhibition between the 15 and 25 micrograms doses, and the 15 and 35 micrograms doses, but only a slight dose response was seen between the 25 and 35 micrograms doses with no significant difference. Serum gastrin level was not influenced by the administration of enprostil. No side effects attributed to enprostil were observed throughout the study.