[Effect of calcitonin on the transmural gastric potential difference (author's transl)]

The effect of calcitonin (salmon-calcitonin) on PD taken from the gastric juice was measured in 19 volunteers and compared with controls given saline solution (n = 14). The PD measurements in the gastric juice were done under fluoroscopic or under endoscopic control. After bolus injection of calcitonin (100 MRCU) a rapid and significant (p less than 0.05) increase in PD taken from the gastric juice was observed within 15 min. This increase remained almost unchanged for 2 hours. With the endoscopically directed electrode increases in PD could be also detected in the fundus, in the body of the stomach and in the antrum but not in the duodenum mucosa. In contrast to the increase in the antrum mucosa there was a more significant increase in PD in the fundus and in the body of the stomach. This difference could be discussed as a specific effect of calcitonin on the parietal cells.