Peptic ulcer and gastrin in pigs.

Previous studies have shown that bile duct ligation in pigs results in gastric ulceration. It has been suggested in human peptic ulceration that there may be no associated rise in the serum gastrin level. This study was conducted to determine the portal and peripheral gastrin levels in sham-operated and bile-duct-ligated pigs, together with the basal acid concentration and the response to a protein meal. There was an increase in basal acid concentration in bile-duct-ligated animals, but the serum gastrin levels remained in the normal range. Two of the six sham-operated control pigs had peptic ulcers at the time of sacrifice, and these two were the only sham-operated control pigs which did not demonstrate a significant postoperative rise in the serum gastrin level. At no stage was a significant difference between portal and peripheral vein serum gastrin levels demonstrated. These studies suggest that the increased gastric acid secretion in this form of peptic ulceration in the pig may not be entirely gastrin-mediated.