Failure to pentagastrin administration to restore postprandial acid secretion from Heidenhain pouches after antrectomy in dogs.

In four dogs with Heidenhain pouche, acid outputs from the pouch were measured in response to feeding boiled liver with or without simultaneous administration of pentagastrin. Antrectomy was performed and the experiments were repeated. Antrectomy decreased the acid response to feeding by 90 percent. The preantrectomy response was restored by infusing pentagastrin but near maximal doses were needed and the maximal response to feeding plus pentagastrin could not be restored. These results indicate that the decrease of the acid secretory response to feeding from Heidenhain pouches after antrectomy cannot be explained fully through suppression of endogenous gastrin release. Antrectomy probably interferes with the intestinal phase of gastric secretion.