Abstract
The antral hormone, gastrin, is a linear polypeptide with seventeen amino-acid residues. Since Tracy and Gregory (1) elucidated that the C-terminal tetrapeptide amide, Trp.Met.Asp.Phe.NH2 produces all the physiological effects of the entire molecule, C-terminal tetrapeptide and pentapeptide amides instead of gastrin have been used for investigation of gastric acid secretion and diagnosis of gastric function. There have been numerous reports concerning pharmacological effects of gastrin and these peptides, very little, however, is known about their metabolism.
The present study is an attempt to investigate the difference in distribution, absorption and excretion of exogenous gastrin and gastrin-like tetrapeptide using iodine-125 labeled gastrin and tritiated tetrapeptide while making a comparison of their biological activities.
