[16,16-Dimethylprostaglandin E2. Antisecretory and protective effects on human gastric mucosa]

The effect of graded oral doses of 16,16-dimethyl-prostaglandin E2 (PG E2) on basal acid secretion in healthy volunteers was tested over a time period of 6 h. In addition, studies were conducted to determine whether pretreatment with this methylated PG-analog could prevent the characteristic fall in human gastric potential difference (PD) associated with intragastric instillation of 50 ml of 4 mmol/l Na-taurocholate. Basal acid output was reduced by 80--90% after 0.5 microgram/kg b.w. 16,16-dimethyl-PG E2. Half maximum inhibition was achieved by 0.1 microgram/kg b.w., whereas a 10 fold lower dose of 16,16-dimethyl-PG E2 (0.01 microgram/kg b.w.) effectively protected human gastric mucosa against the injurious effects of Na-taurocholate. In analogy to findings in animals it is, therefore, concluded that 16,16-dimethyl-PG E2 has two distinct properties in human stomach, antisecretory and protective ones, which were independent of each other.