Removal of gastrin by various organs in dogs

In 6 anesthetized dogs receiving 400 pmoles kg-1 hr-1 of natural human little gastrin intravenously, blood samples for radioimmunoassay of gastrin were taken repeatedly from a carotid artery, jugular vein, femoral vein, renal vein, and mesenteric vein. The calculated removal of gastrin in a single passage through these four vascular beds ranged from 21 to 30% and did not differ significantly among them. In 6 additional dogs, the carotid arterial to hepatic venous removal was 40%. We conclude that the percentage removal of gastrin is about the same in all of the major vascular beds of the body.