EFFECT OF FEMALE SEX HORMONES AND ADRENOCORTICOTROPHIN ON FELINE GASTRIN AND GASTRIC SECRETIONS

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Abstract
Since it has been suggested that female sex hormones confer some protection against peptic ulceration, but how this is effected is not known, (Crean, 1963), the effects of these hormones on gastric secretions and serum gastrin concentration were observed in cats. Female sex hormones significantly reduce the fasting serum gastrin concentration and the acid response to food stimulation but not to stimulation with gastrin pentapeptide. This suggests that the decrease in food-stimulated acid secretion is therefore probably the result of a decrease in gastrin concentration and that the acid secretory mechanism is unchanged. Protein content of gastric secretions did not change during treatment with female sex hormones which suggests that mucous secretion is unchanged. Pepsin activity of gastric juice during gastrin pentapeptide stimulation was significantly decreased, but pepsin activity after stimulation by food increased. Whatever the mechanism of this reduction in gastric functions, it is not apparently mediated by the adreno-hypothalamic axis, because ACTA has no effect on gastric secretions in this animal preparation. These results may be indicative of changes in gastrin concentration and gastric secretions during pregnancy when concentrations of female sex hormones are much higher than normal. That sex hormones exert an affect by reducing serum gastrin concentration was suggested.

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