Gastrin release from gastrinoma cells stimulated with secretin

The secretin injection test has been proved to be useful in the diagnosis of gastrinoma in vivo. Fresh gastrinoma cells were cultured for a short time in vitro and then stimulated with secretin. A rise in the gastrin concentration in the culture medium was observed within 10 min after the addition of secretin. This fact may be evidence that gastrinoma cells have receptors which bind with secretin resulting in the release of gastrin.