Gastric antisecretory effects of E prostaglandins in Rhesus monkeys

The gastric antisecretory actions of prostaglandin E1 methyl ester (PGE1ME) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were evaluated in unanesthetized gastric fistula rhesus monkeys. Basal and stimulated gastric secretory studies were conducted. Multiple subcutaneous injections of either histamine or pentagastrin were given hourly for four consecutive hours. When a constant plateau of gastric secretion was reached, the PGs were administered as a single intravenous bolus at doses of 10-100 mug/kg. PGE1ME inhibited basal, histamine- and pentagastrin-stimulated gastric secretion. PGE2 was found to inhibit the histamine- stimulated gastric secretion. The PGs showed greater sensitivity to the inhibition of acid concentration rather than the volume of secretion. The PGs signfiicantly altered gastric juice concentration of hydrogen and sodium ion inversely, while potassium and chloride concentration were not altered. These experiments suggest that the rhesus monkey is a useful species for studying the gastric antisecretory effects of E prostaglandins.