Michael A. Koss

Impaired proximal duodenal mucosal bicarbonate secretion in patients with duodenal ulcer.

The defensive factors that prevent the human duodenal mucosa from acidic and peptic damage have not been fully evaluated. To determine whether duodenal mucosal bicarbonate production was altered in patients with inactive duodenal ulcer, we measured basal and acid-stimulated bicarbonate output from the duodenal bulb and the distal duodenum in healthy subjects and patients with inactive duodenal ulcer. As compared with 16 normal subjects, the 12 patients had significantly less mean (+/- SE) basal proximal duodenal mucosal bicarbonate secretion (185 +/- 13 vs. 107 +/- 18 mumol per centimeter per hour; P less than 0.001). Moreover, in response to a physiologic amount of hydrochloric acid (2 mmol per five minutes) instilled directly into the duodenal bulb, peak proximal duodenal bicarbonate output in the patients was 41 percent of the normal response (263 +/- 65 vs. 642 +/- 77 mumol per centimeter per hour; P less than 0.01). There was little overlap between groups. In contrast, bicarbonate outputs in the distal duodenum were similar in the two groups. We conclude that most patients with duodenal ulcer disease have decreased proximal duodenal mucosal bicarbonate production at rest, in response to hydrochloric acid, and in relation to peak gastric acid secretion. Impaired proximal duodenal mucosal bicarbonate secretion may be an important factor in the development and natural history of duodenal ulcer.

Human duodenal mucosal bicarbonate secretion: Evidence for basal secretion and stimulation by hydrochloric acid and a synthetic prostaglandin E1 analogue

The factors responsible for prevention of duodenal mucosal injury are not known. This series of experiments was performed to determine whether the human duodenum secretes bicarbonate that could prevent mucosal damage. To isolate a 4-cm segment of proximal (i.e., the duodenal bulb) or distal duodenum free of contamination from either gastric or pancreaticobiliary secretion, or both, methods were developed using occlusive balloons. The test segment was perfused with NaCl (2 ml/min, 37 degrees C) containing [14C]PEG as a nonabsorbable marker, and bicarbonate output was quantitated. Mean (+/- SE) basal proximal duodenal bicarbonate output was 143 +/- 17 mumol/cm X h. A 5-min infusion of 25, 50, and 100 mM HCl directly into the isolated proximal duodenal test segment increased bicarbonate output to 167 +/- 29, 199 +/- 19, and 278 +/- 49 mumol/cm X h, respectively, during the hour after acidification. Distal duodenal acidification (25, 50, and 100 mM) also increased bicarbonate output from the isolated proximal duodenal test segment. A synthetic prostaglandin E1 analogue, misoprostol (1.67-13.3 micrograms/min), infused directly into proximal or distal test segments significantly stimulated bicarbonate outbreak; peak responses were 644 +/- 35 mumol/cm X h and 171 +/- 20 mumol/cm X h (p less than 0.001), respectively. Thus, in humans, the proximal and distal duodenal mucosa secretes bicarbonate at rest; direct acidification of the proximal duodenum stimulates bicarbonate output; acidification of the distal duodenum beyond the isolated test segment also increased proximal duodenal bicarbonate output; and a synthetic prostaglandin E1 analogue stimulated both proximal and distal bicarbonate output; however, distal duodenal bicarbonate output was significantly less, indicating a proximal-to-distal gradient in bicarbonate secretion.

Bolus or intravenous infusion of ranitidine: effects on gastric pH and acid secretion. A comparison of relative efficacy and cost.

Abstract Study Objective:To compare the effects of intravenous bolus injection of ranitidine, continuous intravenous infusion of ranitidine, and placebo on gastric pH, acid secretion, and plasma ra...

Indomethacin Inhibits Duodenal Mucosal Bicarbonate Secretion and Endogenous Prostaglandin E2 Output in Human Subjects

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are a frequent cause of gastric and duodenal mucosal injury. We examined the effect of indomethacin on duodenal mucosal bicarbonate secretion and prostaglandin output in healthy subjects. Subjects received either 50 mg of indomethacin or placebo orally 13 hours and 1 hour before study. A 4-cm segment of proximal (the duodenal bulb) or distal (10 to 14 cm beyond the pylorus) duodenum was isolated and perfused with 154 mM NaCl containing a nonabsorbable marker. In the proximal duodenum indomethacin reduced both basal and acid-stimulated bicarbonate secretion by approximately 65% (p less than 0.01); in the distal duodenum indomethacin decreased basal and acid-stimulated bicarbonate output by approximately 45% (p less than 0.01). Oral indomethacin inhibited basal and acid-stimulated duodenal prostaglandin E2 output in both the proximal and distal duodenum. We conclude that, by decreasing duodenal mucosal bicarbonate production and prostaglandin output in humans, oral indomethacin, in two doses of 50 mg each, impairs an important duodenal defense mechanism.

Proximal duodenal prostaglandin E2 release and mucosal bicarbonate secretion are altered in patients with duodenal ulcer.

Proximal duodenal mucosal bicarbonate production is impaired in patients with duodenal ulcer disease. Because prostaglandins of the E class increase human proximal duodenal bicarbonate secretion, this study tested the hypothesis that endogenous prostaglandin E2 production is defective in patients with duodenal ulcer. Ten patients, five with active and five with inactive duodenal ulcer disease, were studied along with 10 normal volunteers. The proximal 4 cm of duodenum, the bulb, was isolated and continuously perfused with 154 mmol/L NaCl. Basal bicarbonate secretion was measured for 30 minutes. The test segment was then acidified with a physiological amount of HCl (2 mmol over 5 minutes), and acid-stimulated bicarbonate secretion was measured by pH/PCO2 and back-titration for 55 more minutes. Prostaglandin E2 was measured in the effluents by a radioimmunologic assay validated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Compared with the normal subjects after luminal acidification, the duodenal ulcer patients had significantly greater PGE2 release and decreased total 1-hour bicarbonate output. The peak 5-minute acid-stimulated bicarbonate responses were not significantly different between the duodenal ulcer patients and normal subjects. After luminal acidification, PGE2 output remained elevated in the duodenal ulcer patients but returned promptly to basal in the normal subjects. Furthermore, the ratio of bicarbonate secreted to the amount of PGE2 released was significantly less in the ulcer patients. These findings suggest that patients with duodenal ulcer disease have an impaired mucosal bicarbonate response to endogenous PGE2. The increased acid-stimulated PGE2 response in duodenal ulcer patients suggests a compensatory phenomenon in response to the diminished mucosal bicarbonate production.

The Effect of Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide, Secretin, and Glucagon on Human Duodenal Bicarbonate Secretion

Duodenal luminal acidification increases duodenal mucosal bicarbonate production and also releases both secretin and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). The effect of these two structurally similar peptides on human duodenal bicarbonate production has not been examined in humans. Our purpose was therefore to assess the effect of VIP and secretin and also glucagon, a homologous hormone, on human duodenal bicarbonate secretion. A 4-cm portion of either proximal or distal duodenum was isolated and perfused with iso-osmolar NaCl. Pure porcine VIP (200 and 400 pmol/kg-h intravenously) significantly increased proximal duodenal bicarbonate secretion. Although secretin (0.01 to 0.18 CU/kg-h intravenously) markedly increased pancreatic bicarbonate secretion, it failed to alter duodenal mucosal bicarbonate output in either the proximal or the distal duodenum. Glucagon (1 to 8 micrograms/kg-h intravenously) did not affect proximal duodenal mucosal bicarbonate output. It is concluded that VIP, but neither secretin nor glucagon, significantly stimulates human duodenal mucosal bicarbonate secretion.

Enprostil, a synthetic prostaglandin E2 analogue, inhibits meal-stimulated gastric acid secretion and gastrin release in patients with duodenal ulcer*

The effect of enprostil, a synthetic dehydro-prostaglandin E2, on meal-stimulated gastric acid secretion and gastrin release was studied in six patients with inactive duodenal ulcer disease. Each subject underwent seven tests in random order on separate days: placebo intragastrically and intraduodenally; enprostil 35 and 70 micrograms both intragastrically and intraduodenally; and ranitidine 150 mg intragastrically. After measuring basal gastric acid secretion and gastrin release, a liquid meal (500 ml, pH 5.5, 40 g protein, 30 g fat, 30 g carbohydrate, 550 Kcal, 768 mOsm) was given. Gastric acid secretion and gastrin release were measured over the next four hours. A second identical meal was instilled and both parameters were measured for an additional four hours. Thirty-five and 70 micrograms of enprostil administered intragastrically reduced total eight-hour gastric acid secretion by 58 percent and 82 percent, respectively (p less than 0.05). The 35 and 70 microgram doses administered intraduodenally decreased gastric acid secretion by 67 percent and 91 percent, respectively (p less than 0.05 compared with placebo). Ranitidine suppressed gastric acid secretion by 95 percent, which was similar to the suppression achieved with the 70 microgram dose of enprostil. The total meal-stimulated integrated gastrin response was significantly suppressed by both intragastric doses of enprostil and by the 70 microgram dose given intraduodenally (p less than 0.05). Compared with placebo, the 35 microgram intragastric and intraduodenal doses decreased the integrated gastrin response by 73 percent and 72 percent, respectively. The 70 microgram intragastric and intraduodenal doses of enprostil reduced the integrated gastrin response by 90 percent and 125 percent, respectively. Ranitidine did not alter the integrated gastrin response. It is concluded that enprostil significantly inhibited both meal-stimulated gastric acid secretion and gastrin release. The response to enprostil occurred in a dose-dependent manner and was similar regardless of the route of administration.

Acetazolamide inhibits basal and stimulated HCO3− secretion in the human proximal duodenum

BACKGROUND/AIMS Carbonic anhydrase activity plays a role in electrolyte transport in many tissues. This study examined the effect of the carbonic anhydrase inhibitor acetazolamide on human basal and prostaglandin E2- and acid-stimulated duodenal mucosal bicarbonate secretion and transmucosal electrical potential difference. METHODS Seven healthy volunteers participated in four separate experiments. The variables included oral acetazolamide vs. control test and, as agonists of bicarbonate secretion, either luminal acidification or luminal prostaglandin E2. The proximal 4 cm of the duodenum (i.e., the duodenal bulb) was isolated between balloons as previously described and perfused with an HCO(3-)-containing (24 mmol/L) balanced electrolyte glucose-containing (10 mmol/L) solution. RESULTS Acetazolamide treatment significantly decreased mean basal HCO3- secretion and basal transmucosal potential difference. After luminal acidification, duodenal mucosal bicarbonate increased significantly after both acetazolamide treatment (mean, 626; 95% CI, 91-1160 mumol.cm-1.h-1) and in the control tests (mean, 868; 95% CI, 652-1084 mumol.cm-1.h-1). However, acetazolamide treatment significantly decreased prostaglandin E2-stimulated HCO3- secretion from 461 (95% CI, 307-615) to 222 (95% CI, 121-324) mumol.cm-1.h-1. CONCLUSIONS Duodenal mucosal carbonic anhydrase activity has an important function in the regulation of basal and prostaglandin E2-stimulated human duodenal mucosal bicarbonate transport.

Human duodenal mucosal bicarbonate secretion. Evidence suggesting active transport under basal and stimulated conditions.

When the proximal duodenum of animals or humans is perfused with isoosmolar NaCl, bicarbonate enters the luminal effluent. In addition, duodenal bicarbonate output is stimulated by luminal acidification and prostaglandins of the E class. The hypothesis that in vivo human duodenal bicarbonate transport persists in the absence of a plasma-to-lumen bicarbonate gradient and therefore is probably an active transport process was tested. In healthy subjects, a 4-cm segment of the proximal duodenum was isolated from gastric and pancreaticobillary secretions. Net duodenal bicarbonate secretion remained similar to basal levels during luminal perfusion with either 24 or 32 mM bicarbonate (each isoosmolar with plasma by the addition of NaCl). In addition, peak increases in acid-induced bicarbonate outputs with luminal perfusion of 154 mM NaCl and 32 mM NaHCO3 (+122 mM NaCl) were similar. Moreover, prostaglandin E2-stimulated bicarbonate secretion with perfusion of 154 mM NaCl and 32 mM NaHCO3 (+122 mM NaCl) was similar. It was concluded that in humans, proximal duodenal mucosal bicarbonate transport remains unaltered in the absence of a plasma-to-lumen bicarbonate gradient at rest and after stimulation with HCl or prostaglandin E2. These observations suggest that human proximal duodenal bicarbonate secretion involves active transport.

pH threshold for human duodenal bicarbonate secretion and diffusion of CO2

Gastric acid enters the proximal duodenum both as free and buffered H+. The procedures in this study were threefold: (a) to determine the pH threshold for duodenal mucosal bicarbonate secretion, iso-osmolar citric acid (pH 2.5-4.0; H+, 1.1 mmol) was infused; (b) to examine the effect of varying acid loads (H+, 0.4-5.1 mmol), citric acid (pH 3.0) was perfused; and (c) to quantitate duodenal diffusion of CO2, citric acid (pH 5.0) gassed with CO2 (PCO2, 0-210 mm Hg) was tested. Basal bicarbonate secretion was similar on each test day, 230 mumol/cm.h. Citric acid at pH 2.5 and 3.0 increased bicarbonate output equally to about 560 mumol/cm.h (similar to 2 mmol of 100 mmol/L HCl); citric acid at pH 3.5 and 4.0 had no effect. Varying the acid load increased bicarbonate output similarly. Duodenal loss of CO2 was minimal (4%) with infusion of 50 mm Hg PCO2 and increased to approximately 25% (15 mm Hg/min) at higher PCO2 values. It is concluded that (a) the pH threshold for human duodenal mucosal bicarbonate secretion is 3.0; (b) a pH-sensitive, rather than an acid load-sensitive, regulatory process exists; and (c) CO2 loss plateaus at 15 mm Hg/min at a PCO2 of 200 mm Hg.