Intragastric titration of peptone-stimulated gastric acid secretion.

Fourteen male patients with duodenal ulcer were stimulated by a 10% peptone meal, and acid secretion was measured by continuous intragastric titration. The results were compared to the effects of intravenous infusion of pentagastrin given in a dose of 6.0 microgram/kg-hour on gastric acid secretion in the same 14 patients. Acid secretion reached the peak in the third 15-min period after peptone instillation and it was similar to that peak acid output/15 min produced by infusion of pentagastrin. Acid secretion in response to peptone in the second hour gradually diminished towards the basal level, on the contrary, during i.v. infusions of pentagastrin the acid secretion was well sustained. The acid response to peptone solution or pentagastrin infusion did not differ significantly in the first hour, but in the second hour the difference was significant. It is concluded that the gastric acid secretion induced by peptone is comparable to the effect of the highest dose of pentagastrin infusion only in the first hour. Reproducibility of gastric response to peptone and to pentagastrin infusion was very good (r = 0.79 and 0.87, respectively).