Antramine (antral histamine) antagonizes somatostatin inhibition on endogenous gastrin-induced gastric secretion. A new hypothesis for the role of histamine in gastric secretion regulation.

The effects of antramine, an antral histamine (AH), and of synthetic histamine (SH) on acid, pepsin, and gastrin responses to meals alone or in combination with somatostatin were studied in dogs equipped with a Heidenhain pouch. Food-induced acid secretion was potentiated by AH and only slightly increased by SH. Pepsin secretion was increased by AH and decreased by SH. Both AH and SH suppressed the inhibitory activity of somatostatin on food-induced secretion. AH potentiated gastrin response to feeding but decreased it when somatostatin was added to the meal. Since acid secretion was unrelated to gastrin response, it would appear that the secretory effects of AH involve a direct action on secreting cells, itself based on the suppression of somatostatin inhibition. Gastric secretion is probably related to gastrin efficacy on secreting cells, which would result from the antagonistic effects of somatostatin and AH. These data suggest an alternative hypothesis concerning the role of histamine in the control of gastric secretion.