Gastrins and the Vagus [antikvár]

PREFACEGastrin and the vagal nerves regulate gastric acid secretion. Inappropriately increased secretion of gastric acid is supposed to cause duodenal ulcer. Gastrin and the vagus have consequently been justly investigated in the study of pathogenetic mechanisms in the duodenal ulcer disease, and the surgery for duodenal ulcer has for many years in a logical manner attempted to eliminate either gastrin, the vagus or both.In spite of great efforts, it has, however, been difficult to delineate the exact roles of gastrin and the vagus. By now we can partly explain the apparent lack of success: 1) Factors other than gastrin and the vagus contribute to the regulation of gastric acid secretion. 2) The significance of the factors varies greatly among mammalian species making experimental studies of duodenal ulcer disease difficult. 3) The function of gastrin and the vagus is more com-phcated than previously assumed. Gastrin is not a single peptide, but many different molecular forms with different biological activities. The vagus releases not only acetylcholin, but apparently also a number of active peptides, including the gastrins, somatostatin and VIP.In view of this complexity, we have found the time ripe for a thorough discussion of the basic structural and functional features of the gastrins and the vagus with respect to their regulation of the parietal cells. Secondly, we wanted the pathogenetic mechanisms of duodenal ulcer reviewed as far as possible with attention paid to the new features of gastrins and the vagus. Finally, we wanted to put the newly recognized features of gastrin and the vagus into an appropriate perspective by discussing the modern surgical and medical treatment of duodenal ulcer disease. This volume is the proceedings of a workshop on gastrins and the vagus, held in Aarhus on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the University of Aarhus. We hope that the book reflects the workshop, which was marked by exciting new contributions and excellent reviews.The Editors