Evidence of extragastric gastrin release in postoperative ulcer patients.

The principal sites of gastrin production in man are localized at the level of the gastric antrum; both the oral glucose load and the protein meal stimulate the gastrin secretion. The aim of this study was to verify the gastrin response in patients with gastric resections presented with various stimuli. In the operated patients, the behavior of serum gastrin after a protein meal was different with respect to that observed in control subjects. After glucose, on the contrary, a very similar result was seen when compared to controls. The increase in serum gastrin of patients with Billroth II provides a further confirmation of an extragastric origin of gastrin.