Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of physiological increases of plasma noradrenaline on gastric acid secretion and gastrointestinal hormones

  • Original Articles
  • Published:
Digestive Diseases and Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

It is not known if the increased plasma concentration of noradrenaline in patients with chronic duodenal ulcer disease is a pathogenetic factor or not. The aim of the present study was to investigate if physiologic changes of noradrenaline would evoke any alterations in gastric acid secretion or in the plasma concentration of some gastrointestinal hormones (gastrin, secretin, PP, PYY, and GIP) known to affect gastric physiology. The results show that basal plasma noradrenaline concentration was 1.8 nM and after infusion with noradrenaline at 0.04 or 0.2 nmol/kg/min plasma levels of 2.5 and 4.4 nM were obtained. No appreciable changes could be found in basal or pentagastrin stimulated acid secretion or in any of the gastrointestinal peptides studied. If the elevated plasma noradrenaline concentration observed in duodenal ulcer patients is a pathogenetic factor; it is probable that it interferes with other variables such as blood flow, bicarbonate secretion, or prostaglandin synthesis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Brandsborg O, Brandsborg M, Lövgreen N, Christensen N: Increased plasma noradrenaline and serum gastrin in patients with duodenal ulcer. Eur J Clin Invest 8:11–14, 1978

    Google Scholar 

  2. Järhult J, Angerås U, Farnebo L-O, Graffner H, Hamberger B: Elevated plasma levels of noradrenaline in duodenal ulcer. World J Surg 7:385–389, 1983

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bekker C, Andersen D, Kronborg O, Madsen P, Johansen T, Christiansen L: Plasma catecholamine and serum gastrin concentrations during sham feeding. Life Sci 32:257–262, 1983

    Google Scholar 

  4. Leonsins A, Waddell W: Inhibiting effect of norepinephrine on gastric secretion in human subjects. J Appl Physiol 12:334–348, 1958

    Google Scholar 

  5. Christensen K, Stadil F: Effect of epinephrine and norepinephrine on gastrin release and gastric secretion of acid in man. Scand J Gastroenterol (Suppl) 37:87–92, 1976

    Google Scholar 

  6. Järhult J, Farnebo L-O, Hamberger B, Holst J, Schwartz T: The relation between catecholamines, glucagon and pancreatic polypeptide during hypoglycaemia in man. Acta Endocrinol 98:402–406, 1981

    Google Scholar 

  7. Hökfelt B, Hansson BG, Heding L, Nilsson KO: Effect of insulin induced hypoglycaemia on the blood levels of catecholamines, glucagon, growth hormone, cortisol, c-peptide, and proinsulin before and during medication with the cardioselective B-receptor blocking agent metoprolol in man. Acta Endocrinol 87:659–667, 1978

    Google Scholar 

  8. Järhult J, Hamberger B, Lanthén G, Ors M, Uvnäs-Wallensten K: The role of catecholamines in the control of gastrin and acid secretion during insulin hypoglycaemia in man. Digestion 21:92–97, 1981

    Google Scholar 

  9. Hostein J, Fournet J, Debru J, Bonnet-Eymard J: Action of norepinephrine on the serum gastrin level. Digestion 18:134–137, 1978

    Google Scholar 

  10. Lundberg J, Hökfelt T, Änggård A, Terenius L, Elde R, Markey K, Goldstein M, Kimmel J: Organizational principles in the peripheral sympathetic nervous system: Subdivision by coexisting peptides (somatostatin-, avian pancreatic polypeptide-, and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-like immunoreactive materials). Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 79:1303–1307, 1977

    Google Scholar 

  11. Larson GM, Sullivan HW, O'Dorisio T: Surgical sympathectomy increases pancreatic polypeptide response to food. Surgery 98:236–242, 1985

    Google Scholar 

  12. Salera M, Ebert R, Giacomoni P, Pironi L, Venturi S, Corinaldesi R, Miglioli M, Barbara L: Adrenergic modulation of gastric inhibitory polypeptide secretion in man. Dig Dis Sci 27:794–800, 1982

    Google Scholar 

  13. Koop H, Behrens I, Bothe E, Koschwitz H, McIntosh CHS, Pederson RA, Arnold R, Creutzfeldt W: Adrenergic control of rat gastric somatostatin and gastrin release. Scand J Gastroenterol 19:65–71, 1983

    Google Scholar 

  14. Hallman H, Farnebo LO, Hamberger B, Jonsson G: A sensitive method for the determination of plasma catecholamines using liquid chromotography with electrochemical detection. Life Sci 23:1049–1052, 1978

    Google Scholar 

  15. Bloom SR, Long RG: Radioimmunoassay of Gut Regulatory Peptides. Eastbourne, WB Saunders, 1982

    Google Scholar 

  16. Adrian TE, Ferri G-L, Bacarese-Hamilton AJ, Fuessl HS, Polak JM, Bloom SR: Human distribution and release of a putative new gut hormone, peptide YY. Gastroenterology 89:1070–1077, 1985

    Google Scholar 

  17. Åkerstedt T, Gillberg M, Hjemdahl P, Sigurdson K, Gustavsson I, Daleskog M, Tollare T: Comparison of urinary and plasma catecholamine responses to mental stress. Acta Physiol Scand 117:19–26, 1983

    Google Scholar 

  18. Jacobson ED: Comparison of prostaglandin E1 and norepinephrine on the gastric mucosal circulation. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 133:516–519, 1970

    Google Scholar 

  19. Brandsborg O, Brandsborg M, Christensen N: Plasma adrenaline and serum gastrin: Studies in insulin-induced hypoglycemia and after adrenaline infusions. Gastroenterology 68:455–460, 1975

    Google Scholar 

  20. Brandsborg O, Christensen N, Galbo H, Brandsborg M, Lövgreen N: The effect of exercise, smoking and propranolol on serum gastrin in patients with duodenal ulcer and in vagotomized subjects. Scand J Clin Lab Invest 38:441–446, 1978

    Google Scholar 

  21. Kaess H, Utz G, Teckentrupp U, Hauck A, Dörner M: Effect of propranolol and phentolamine on serum gastrin concentration in response to respiratory acidosis in normal man. Eur J Invest 5:401–408, 1975

    Google Scholar 

  22. Russell RCG, Bloom SR, Fielding LP, Bryant MG: Current problems in the measurement of gastrin release. A reproducible measure of physiological gastrin release. Postgrad Med J 52:645–650, 1976

    Google Scholar 

  23. Schwartz TW, Stadil F, Chance RE, Rehfeld JF, Larsson LI, Moon N: Pancreatic polypeptide response to food in duodenal ulcer patients before and after vagotomy. Lancet 1:1102–1105, 1976

    Google Scholar 

  24. Schwartz TW: Pancreatic polypeptide: A hormone under vagal control. Gastroenterology 85:1411–1425, 1983

    Google Scholar 

  25. Flaten O, Myren J: Adrenergic modulation of the release of pancreatic polypeptide after intraduodenal and oral glucose in man. Scand J Gastroenterol 16:781–787, 1981

    Google Scholar 

  26. Linnestad P, Guldvog I, Schrumpf E: The effect of alphaand beta-adrenergic agonists and blockers on postprandial pancreatic polypeptide release in dogs. Scand J Gastroenterol 18:87–90, 1983

    Google Scholar 

  27. Kayasseh L, Haecki WH, Gyr K, Stalder GA, Rittman, WW, Halter F, Girard J: The endogenous release of pancreatic polypeptide by acid and meal in dogs. Scand J Gastroenterol 13:385–391, 1978

    Google Scholar 

  28. Makhlouf GM, Zfass AM, Said SI, Schebalin M: Effects of synthetic vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), secretin and their partial sequences on gastric secretion. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 157:565–568, 1978

    Google Scholar 

  29. McLoughlin JC, Hayes JR, Buchanan KD, Kelly JG: Role of neural influences in the release of gastrin, glucagon and secretin during hypoglycaemia in man. Gut 19:632–639, 1978

    Google Scholar 

  30. Sirinek KR, Cataland S, O'Dorisio T, Mazzaferri EL, Crockett S, Pace WG: Sympathetic neuroendocrine regulation of gastric inhibitory polypeptide response to glucose. Surg Forum 28:377–379, 1977

    Google Scholar 

  31. Jacobowitz D, Olschowka J: Bovine pancreatic polypeptidelike immunoreactivity in brain and peripheral nervous system: Coexistence with catecholaminergic nerves. Peptides 3:569–590, 1982

    Google Scholar 

  32. Adrian TE, Sagor GR, Savage AP: Low dose PYY inhibits gastric secretion in man. Gut 24:A479, 1983

    Google Scholar 

  33. Flemström G, Turnberg LA: Gastroduodenal defence mechanisms. Clin Gastroenterol 13:327–354, 1984

    Google Scholar 

  34. Hedqvist P, Gustafsson L, Hjemdahl P, Svanborg K: Aspects of prostaglandin action on autonomic neuroeffector transmission.In Advances in Prostaglandin and Thromboxane Research, Vol 8. B Samuelsson, PW Ramwell, R Paoletti (eds). New York, Raven Press, 1980, pp 1245–1248

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Helsingborg Hospital, S-251 87, Helsingborg, Sweden

    H. Graffner MD, PhD, S. R. Bloom MA, DSc, MD, FRCP, L. -O. Farnebo MD, PhD & J. Järhult MD, PhD

  2. Department of Surgery, Danderyd, Sweden

    H. Graffner MD, PhD, S. R. Bloom MA, DSc, MD, FRCP, L. -O. Farnebo MD, PhD & J. Järhult MD, PhD

  3. Department of Surgery, Eksjö, Sweden

    H. Graffner MD, PhD, S. R. Bloom MA, DSc, MD, FRCP, L. -O. Farnebo MD, PhD & J. Järhult MD, PhD

  4. Department of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London, England

    H. Graffner MD, PhD, S. R. Bloom MA, DSc, MD, FRCP, L. -O. Farnebo MD, PhD & J. Järhult MD, PhD

Authors
  1. H. Graffner MD, PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. R. Bloom MA, DSc, MD, FRCP
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. L. -O. Farnebo MD, PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. J. Järhult MD, PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Grant support was from the Medical Faculty, University of Lund and the Segerfalk Foundation.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Graffner, H., Bloom, S.R., Farnebo, L.O. et al. Effects of physiological increases of plasma noradrenaline on gastric acid secretion and gastrointestinal hormones. Digest Dis Sci 32, 715–719 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01296137

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01296137

Key Words

Search

Navigation