Sex, gonads, sex hormones and histamine-stimulated gastric acid and serum pepsinogen

Objective and Design: The effects of sex, sex hormones and gonads were studied in dogs because men secrete more acid than woman and duodenal ulcer is men and remits in pregnancy and after stilboestrol. Material: Four male and 4 female greyhounds with chronic gastric fistulas were tested. Methods: Histamine was infused i.v. 1-16 mu g/min and plateau acid output measured in the last 30 min of each 60 min infusion. Treatment: 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.