Gastric acid and serum gastrin responses to insulin and 2-deoxy-d-glucose in duodenal ulcer patients before and after partial gastrectomy.

Gastric acid and serum gastrin (radioimmunoassay) responses to insulin (0.2 U/kg i.v.) and 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG) (50 mg/kg i.v.) were determined in 11 male duodenal ulcer patients before and after partial gastrectomy involving complete antral resection. In 8 of the patients the acid response to pentagastrin (6 mug/kg subc.) was also determined. Before operation, 2DG produced higher acid and gastrin responses than insulin. Partial gastrectomy reduced basal acid secretion by 54% but did not alter the basal gastrin level, suggesting that this gastrin is of extra-antral origin. Partial gastrectomy reduced the acid responses to insulin and 2DG by 66% and 78%, respectively; after operation the acid responses to these stimulants were equal. The ratio for the acid response to insulin and pentagastrin was 65% before and 56% after partial gastrectomy; corresponding ratios for 2DG and pentagastrin were 112% and 48%. Partial gastrectomy abolished the peak gastrin response to insulin hypoglycemia and reduced that to 2DG by 64%. The integrated gastrin response to insulin and 2DG was insignificant in the operated patients. Both insulin and 2DG release mainly antral gastrin which appears to be of greater importance for the acid response to 2DG than insulin.