Gastroesophageal sphincter pressure and serum
gastrin concentration were determined in the fasting state and after the intake of a
protein food in 6 normal subjects, 6 patients with
gastric ulcer, and in 6 patients with
duodenal ulcer. No significant differences in the fasting state were found. After the food intake, gastroesophageal sphincter pressure increased significantly over basal values in normals and in patients with
duodenal ulcer, but in patients with
gastric ulcer a decrease in pressure was noted. Serum
gastrin rose in all subjects studied after the food stimulation, but it was significant only in the gastric and
duodenal ulcer group. In two normals and two patients with
duodenal ulcer the ingestion of a potato meal of similar weight to that of the
protein meal showed no change either in serum
gastrin or in sphincter pressure. In one additional normal subject and one
duodenal ulcer patient the constant
intravenous infusion of
Aminosol for 2 h produced no change in serum
gastrin or sphincter pressure. These results indicate that the effect of
protein food on sphincter pressure is different for gastric or
duodenal ulcers, and, furthermore, that this effect is mediated by
proteins in the gastrointestinal tract.