Antral function in duodenal ulcer. The gastric secretion of acid, chloride and pepsin in response to antral stimuli and to insulin and maximal histamine stimulation in duodenal ulcer and controls.

A dye-dilution technique is used to compare the concentration and output of acid, chloride and pepsin in duodenal ulcer patients and controls following stimulation of the antrum with alcohol, sodium bicarbonate and peptone with the response to insulin hypoglycaemia and maximal histamine stimulation. The mean secretory rate was higher in response to all the stimuli in duodenal ulcer patients except to sodium bicarbonate. Following antral stimulation by peptone and sodium bicarbonate the acid and chloride concentrations rose to very high levels. The mean outputs were the same as those following maximal histamine stimulation although there were wide individual variations. There was no difference between duodenal ulcer patients and controls. The ‘neutral chloride’ concentration was much less than in the other phases. The basal secretion and the secretions in response to insulin and histamine stimulation showed higher concentrations, as well as higher outputs of acid and chloride in duodenal ulcer patients. Pepsin concentration in response to the various stimuli showed no difference between duodenal ulcer patients and controls and the pepsin output reflected the changes in secretory volume.