Interaction of somatostatin and pentagastrin on lower oesophageal sphincter pressure (LESP) in man.

The effect of intravenous somatostatin on basal and gastrin-stimulated human lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP) was examined with the rapid pull-through technique. In a group of 7 healthy volunteers LESP was not influenced under basal conditions, but there was an augmented response to pulse-doses of pentagastrin (0.6 mug/kg) during infusion of somatostatin (250 mug/kg-h). The physiological importance of these findings still has to be evaluated.