Colonic inhibition of gastric secretion in man

The effect of colonic infusion of various solutions on submaximal pentagastrin-stimulated gastric secretion was determined in healthy volunteers. Hypertonic (823 mOsm/kg) glucose, mannitol, and saline, and also isotonic glucose significantly induced a marked and sustained inhibition of gastric acid secretion of 74%, 66%, 79%, and 54%, respectively. A similar degree of inhibition was obtained for pepsin secretion with hypertonic glucose and mannitol. Isotonic triglycerides and isotonic saline solutions had no significant effect on gastric acid secretion. Hypertonic glucose, mannitol, and saline infusions significantly increased plasma concentrations of enteroglucagon, whereas other solutions had no effect. No correlation, however, was found between the percentage rise of enteroglucagon and the percentage inhibition of gastric secretion obtained from any of the three hypertonic solutions. The physiological significance of these findings remains to be established.