Effect of duodenal feeding on serum gastrin and acid response to pentagastrin in cats.

Five cats were provided with a gastric fistula (GF) and a Heidenhain pouch (HP), and the proximal small intestine was excluded and provided with a duodenal fistula. A protein-rich meal, introduced into the duodenum (duodenal feeding) caused no serum gastrin increase, which supports our previous conclusion that duodenal gastrin is of no significance for the postprandial acid secretion in cats. However, duodenal feeding potentiated the maximal GF and HP acid responses to pentagastrin, suggesting that the proximal small intestine is implicated in the postprandial acid stimulation in cats via a humoral factor that is distinct from gastrin and cholecystokinin.