Effect of maprotiline on pentagastrin-stimulated acid secretion in man

We have studied the effect of maprotiline, an antidepressant with a strong pronoradrenergic effect, on human gastric secretion. Twelve subjects (nine men and three women) entered the study; six had an active duodenal ulcer, and six were healthy volunteers. Each patient underwent two experiments with an interval of at least 48 h. In a randomized double-blind order, each patient received maprotiline or placebo intravenously during intravenous stimulation with pentagastrin (2 micrograms/kg/h). Thirty minutes after basal collection, pentagastrin was administered for 180 min by constant intravenous infusion. After 60 min placebo or maprotiline (1 mg/kg/h) was added to the intravenous infusion from the 60th to 120th min; thereafter 2 mg/kg/h were infused until the 180th min. Maprotiline infusion (2 mg/kg/h) inhibited significantly stimulated acid secretion in comparison with placebo in duodenal ulcer patients but not in healthy volunteers.