Prostaglandins and vagal stimulation of gastric secretion in duodenal ulcer patients.

The effects of a stable prostaglandin (PG) E2 analog (15-R-15 methyl PGE2) and aspirin, a potent inhibitor of cyclooxygenase, on modified sham-feeding (MSF)-stimulated gastric secretion and serum gastrin and pancreatic polypeptide (PP) levels were measured in patients with duodenal ulcer. PGE2 analog given orally significantly reduced gastric acid and pepsin secretion and suppressed serum PP but not gastrin responses to MSF. Suppression of PG generation in the gastric mucosa did not influence the secretory or hormonal responses to MSF. This study shows that endogenous PGs are not involved in the control of vagally stimulated gastric secretion, but exogenous PGE2 analog is an effective inhibitor of such secretion and merits clinical evaluation in the treatment of duodenal ulcer.