Effect of pirenzepine and atropine on peptone meal-stimulated gastric secretion and plasma gastrin in healthy volunteers, patients with duodenal ulcer and vagotomized patients.

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of atropine with those of placebo and pirenzepine on food-induced gastrin release, and gastric and acid secretion. Three groups of subjects were studied: 8 healthy volunteers; 8 duodenal ulcer patients, and 6 vagotomized patients. Gastric acid secretion and serum gastrin were studied in each subject on 3 different days, after placebo, atropine or pirenzepine, given in random order. In each group, acid secretion was significantly depressed by atropine and pirenzepine. Unlike pirenzepine, atropine induced a significantly increase in serum gastrin in both healthy volunteers and duodenal ulcer patients. None of the treatments caused differences in gastrin response in vagotomized patients.