Dispensability of both the amide of phenylalanine and the carboxyl group of aspartic acid for the stimulation of gastric acid secretion by gastrin peptides in dogs.

Two derivatives of the C-terminal tripeptide of gastrin devoid of -NH2 from the phenylalanyl residue and of -COOH from the aspartic acid, MBOC-Met.Asn.Phe-OH (I) and MBOC-Met.Asp-OBenz.Phe-OMe (II), stimulated gastric acid secretion in the dog when infused intravenously at doses of 100 to 400 mug/kg-hr. Maximal responses induced by I and II were about 30-40% of that induced by the C-terminal tetrapeptide of gastrin. At a dose of 600 mug/kg-hr, I had an inhibitory action while II initially augmented and then inhibited acid production. Neither the C-terminal amide nor the carboxyl group of the aspartyl residue is essential for the gastric stimulatory activity of gastrin peptides.