The effect of duodenal acidification on plasma secretin and gastrin and pancreatic bicarbonate secretion in man.

Plasma secretin, plasma gastrin and pancreatic bicarbonate output were measured in three healthy youths before and after a 10 min period of duodenal infusion of 50, 75 and 100 ml 100 mmol/1 HCl. Plasma secretin rose to a shortlived peak within 10 min, whereas plasma gastrin fell gradually to values significantly below the basal level 60 min after the start of duodenal acidification. Pancreatic bicarbonate output showed a more sustained increase following duodenal acidification. Significant positive correlations were obtained between plasma secretin and infused dose of HCl, between pancreatic bicarbonate output and infused dose of HCl and between plasma secretin and pancreatic bicarbonate output. The calculated maximal pancreatic bicarbonate output (Vmax) of 30.6 mEq/h and the calculated dose of secretin to elicit half maximal pancreatic bicarbonate output (S50) of 0.2 CU/kg-h following duodenal acidification were comparable to that seen after intravenous infusion of secretin. No significant correlation was found between plasma secretin and plasma gastrin. It is suggested that the pancreatic stimulation subsequent to duodenal acidification is mainly effected by release of secretin, and that the fall in plasma gastrin may be caused by a HCl-induced inhibition of gastrin release from the duodenum.