Influence of chronic rioprostil treatment on gastric endocrine function.

The influence of 4 weeks of treatment with the prostaglandin E1 analogue, rioprostil, 300 micrograms b.i.d., or placebo, on gastric endocrine function is tested in healthy male volunteers. Basal serum gastrin levels and postprandial gastrin output are unchanged after treatment with rioprostil. Similarly, plasma pancreatic polypeptide levels are unaffected. Antral gastrin tissue concentrations as well as antral somatostatin concentration and volume densities of antral G-cells and D-cells are unchanged. Neither basal nor pentagastrin-stimulated gastric acid secretion after rioprostil therapy differ from pretreatment values. Rioprostil, given in a dose of 100 micrograms b.i.d. to rats for 1 week significantly increases antral mucosal height but has no influence on the mucosal concentrations and cell densities of the gastric peptides, gastrin and somatostatin. It is concluded that rioprostil in the dose used does not affect the endocrine stomach after 4-weeks' administration at a dose of 300 micrograms b.i.d.