Effect of pentagastrin on gastric mucosal nucleic acid synthesis of fed guinea pigs.

In normally fed guinea pigs the effect of a sustained release pentagastrin preparation was studied on gastric mucosal weight, protein, DNA and RNA concentration and thymidine and uridine incorporation into DNA and RNA, respectively. Treatment with pentagastrin for 3 days significantly increased antral fundic mucosal DNA and RNA concentration and thymidine and uridine incorporation. It is concluded that pentagastrin stimulates gastric mucosal nucleic acid synthesis beyond the driving force elicited by food.