Inhibition by metiamide of secretagogue-induced gastric acid secretion in the conscious Heidenhain pouch rat.

1. The inhibition by metiamide of gastric of gastric acid secretion in response to histamine, pentagastrin and bethanechol has been investigated in the conscious Heidenhain pouch rat. 2. Histamine alone stimulated only a low rate of acid secretion. This response was markedly potentiated in the presence of mepyramine. 3. Metiamide at a dose of 0.15 mumole . kg-1 . min-1 I.V. significantly inhibited the acid secretory responses to histamine (in the presence of mepyramine) and pentagastrin. In each case the inhibition of acid output was the result of a significant decrease in both secretory volume and acid concentration. 4. Metiamide at a dose of 0.15 mumole . kg-1 . min-1 I.V. did not inhibit bethanechol-stimulated acid secretion. Increasing the dose of metiamide to 1.0 mumole . kg 1 . min-1 I.V. did produce a significant inhibition. In contrast with histamine and pentagastrin, metiamide inhibited bethanechol-stimulated secretion only by reducing acid concentration; there was no significant decrease in the gastric secretory volume. 5. It is concluded that these results are consistent with the view that histamine and pentagastrin share a common pathway in stimulating gastric acid secretion in the rat. The role of histamine in the control of bethanechol-stimulated acid secretion remains unclear.