title: Effect of terbutaline, a beta 2-adrenoreceptor agonist, on gastric acid secretion and serum gastrin concentrations in humans.
abstract: Because beta-adrenoreceptor agonists inhibit gastrin-stimulated gastric acid secretion in animals, we postulated that the beta 2-adrenoreceptor agonist, terbutaline, would inhibit pentagastrin-stimulated acid secretion in humans. Moreover, we hypothesized that terbutaline might inhibit food-stimulated acid secretion, as gastrin is a major mediator of food-stimulated acid secretion. Subcutaneous terbutaline (0.25 mg) reduced acid secretion during intravenous infusion of a submaximal dose of pentagastrin by 30%-40% (p less than 0.005), even though terbutaline increased serum gastrin levels (p less than 0.05). Furthermore, subcutaneous (0.25 mg) or oral (5 mg) terbutaline, given before a homogenized steak meal was infused into the stomach, lowered mean food-stimulated acid secretion rates, despite enhanced postprandial serum gastrin concentrations. Terbutaline also increased serum gastrin concentrations in patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and in vagotomized individuals. Thus, beta 2-adrenoreceptor agonists enhance gastrin release while at the same time inhibiting gastrin-stimulated acid secretion in humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Thirlby
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chew
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Feldman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D005744:Gastric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D005755:Gastrins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011292:Premedication; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D013726:Terbutaline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015043:Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D005755:Gastrins; D011433:Propranolol; D013726:Terbutaline