Sex, gonads, sex hormones and histamine-stimulated gastric acid and serum pepsinogen.
OBJECTIVE
The effects of sex, sex hormones and gonads were studied in dogs because men secrete more acid than woman and duodenal ulcer is commoner in men and remits in pregnancy and after stilboestrol.


METHODS
Four male and 4 female greyhounds with chronic gastric fistulas were tested.


METHODS
Histamine was infused i.v. 1-16 micrograms/min and plateau acid output measured in the last 30 min of each 60 min infusion.


METHODS
The gonads were then removed and secretion retested. The orchidectomised dogs were then given stilboestrol 2 mg daily (+/-progesterone 25 mg i.m. three times a week) and the oophorectomised bitches given testosterone propionate 25 mg twice weekly i.m. and secretion again retested.


RESULTS
Submaximal and maximal acid outputs (and serum pepsinogen) of dogs and bitches were similar and correlated with body weight. Gonadectomy did not alter these functions nor did hormones of the opposite sex given for 1-12 months.


CONCLUSIONS
In the dog, as in the rat, and probably in man, histamine-stimulated gastric acid output is a function of body size and not of sex.
Baron
J H
JH
Department of Surgery, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004285:Dogs; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005744:Gastric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000502:physiology*; D006066:Gonads / Q000502:physiology; D006632:Histamine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010435:Pepsinogens / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012737:Sex Factors
D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D010435:Pepsinogens; D006632:Histamine