title: Changes in total pepsin activity and pepsinogen I in human sera under stimulation and inhibition of gastric acid secretion.
abstract: The levels of total pepsin activity and pepsinogen I in sera were first studied in 10 healthy volunteers undergoing stimulation of gastric acid secretion at random on 4 different days with a) a maximum dose (6 micrograms/kg) of pentagastrin, b) ranitidine injection 5 minutes before maximal pentagastrin stimulation, c) ranitidine injection 1 hr before maximal pentagastrin stimulation, or d) sham feeding. In a further 10 healthy volunteers the levels of total pepsin activity and pepsinogen I were studied over 5 days by short-term oral intake of ranitidine. The total pepsin activity and pepsinogen I increased significantly in the sera after maximum-dose pentagastrin, but not after sham feeding. The increase could be completely prevented by ranitidine given only 1 hour before pentagastrin stimulation. The total pepsin activity and pepsinogen I decreased significantly after brief oral intake of ranitidine. It can be concluded that the measurement of total pepsin activity and pepsinogen I in the sera could serve as a rough parameter for testing the effectiveness of potential agents inhibiting gastric secretion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolic Diseases, Klinikum of Philipps-University, Marburg, West Germany.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Schumann
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Massarrat
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005744:Gastric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010418:Pentagastrin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010434:Pepsin A / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010435:Pepsinogens / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011899:Ranitidine / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D010435:Pepsinogens; D011899:Ranitidine; D010434:Pepsin A; D010418:Pentagastrin