[Serum gastrin and secretin and their trophic action after proximal and total gastrectomy]

Serum levels of gastrin and secretin were measured in experimental animals and in man following gastric surgery. Serum gastrin was higher in the fasting, and increased further after test meal in proximally gastrectomized subjects as compared in those receiving total gastrectomy and in normal controls. Serum secretin level, however, was unchanged before and after test meal irrespective to two surgical procedures. Dogs undergoing proximal gastrectomy showed increased output of bicarbonate and amylase as an exocrine pancreatic secretion after instillation of 0.1N HCl into the duodenum. Increased DNA synthesis was observed in the small intestine and pancreas in the proximally gastrectomized dogs. Therefore, higher level of serum gastrin may possess trophic activity in animals undergoing proximal gastrectomy. The findings obtained in this study suggest that we should select, if possible, the proximal gastrectomy leaving the antral region from the view point of trophic action of gastrointestinal hormones.