Disappearance of gastrin heptadecapeptide in the isolated perfused pig liver

To elucidate the role of the liver in gastrin metabolism three liver perfusions and two control experiments were performed; 2,5, 5 and 250 microgram of porcine nonsulphated gastrin-17 were injected into a perfusate of pig blood circulated through an isolated perfused liver. A significant decrease of gastrin concentration was observed during liver perfusions, concentration being halved in 35 minutes with all doses. It is suggested that this decrease is due to hepatic degradation and that the liver may play an important role in metabolism of gastrin-17.