Stimulatory effect of pancreastatin on gastric acid secretion in conscious dogs

Pancreastatin, a new 49-amino acid peptide, has recently been isolated and characterized from extracts of the porcine pancreas. The objective of the present study was to examine the effect of various doses of pancreastatin on gastric acid secretion in conscious dogs that were prepared with chronic gastric cannulas. Pancreastatin, administered IV at 400 pmol.kg-1 x h-1, enhanced peptone meal [peptone (5%), phenylalanine (90 mmol/L), glucose (12 g/dL)]-stimulated gastric acid secretion by 50%; pancreastatin at 800 pmol.kg-1 x h-1 enhanced peptone meal secretion by 165% (P less than 0.05). Intravenous administration of pancreastatin did not affect basal or peptone-stimulated release of gastrin. In addition, IV pancreastatin (400 pmol.kg-1 x h-1) failed to influence basal gastric acid secretion. Pancreastatin did not affect acid secretion stimulated by 2-deoxyglucose, histamine, or pentagastrin. The present study shows that pancreastatin can selectively enhance gastric acid secretion by a mechanism independent of cholinergic, histaminergic, or gastrin input.