Prostaglandin E2 stimulation of oxygen consumption in parietal cells and of H+ transport in gastric mucosa of the rat.

Since prostaglandin E2 is generally stimulatory to intestinal and nonparietal gastric secretions, possible stimulation of parietal gastric acid secretion was investigated. Oxygen consumption of parietal cells isolated from rat stomach was determined before and after addition of 16,16-dimethyl prostaglandin E2 (dmPGE2). At low concentration, dmPGE2 significantly stimulated oxygen consumption of parietal cells by 7%. Concomitantly, acid secretion rose. H+ transport in the isolated gastric mucosa of the rat was determined in the absence of electrochemical gradients to preclude H+ back-diffusion. Compared with control rates, H+ transport from submucosal to mucosal side was stimulated 51% by the same low concentration of dmPGE2. It is concluded that stimulation of gastric acid secretion by parietal cells appears to be a physiological function of prostaglandin E2 in the stomach. The results support the hypothesis that prostaglandins stimulate secretory responses throughout the gastrointestinal tract.