Studies on the role of serotonin in gastric pepsin secretion.

The effect of serotonin depletion and replacement on histamine stimulated pepsin secretion was evaluated from Heidenhain pouches of dogs. Serotonin depletion by reserpine or antagonism by l-methyl-d-lysergic acid butanolamide significantly reduced histamine stimulated pepsin secretion. Serotonin replacement by 5-hydroxytryptophan elevated pepsin secretion, despite the prior depletion by reserpine. The data suggest that serotonin is a stimulator of histamine stimulated pepsin secretion in denervated gastric pouches in dogs.