[Regulation of gastric acid secretion: new aspects]

The purpose of this short review is to reveal new aspects of regulation of gastric acid secretion. The complex interactions between humoral, paracrine, neurocrine, neuroendocrine, vagal and sympathetic mechanisms will be emphasized. The finding that stimulation of the vagus nerves releases bombesin from peptidergic nerve fibers, which causes release of gastrin from endocrine cells in the stomach, demonstrates the complex interaction between nerves and hormones. The target organ, the parietal cell, has receptors for gastrin, acetylcholine and histamine, which potentiate each other regarding stimulation of acid secretion. New findings about the pathophysiology of acid secretion in duodenal ulcer patients are emphasized.