Gastrin is a hormone produced by the stomach lining that regulates the secretion of digestive acid. It also has minor effects on other organs and can be monitored to detect diseases. High or low levels can indicate medical conditions. Doctors use an intravenous secretin test to monitor gastrin production.
Gastrin is a hormone found in the human body. It is produced by the cells of the stomach lining and its purpose is to regulate the secretion of digestive acid. While there are other hormones involved in this process, gastrin is the master regulator of stomach acid. The cells in the stomach responsible for producing this substance are called G cells.
The very act of consuming food stimulates the production of the hormone. When a person eats, the food enters their stomach and G cells stimulate the release of gastrin into the blood. Levels begin to rise in the blood, triggering the release of stomach acid. This acid helps in the digestion of food. Eventually, enough stomach acid is produced and levels of the hormone begin to drop once more.
Apart from the stomach, this substance also has a role to play with other organs in the human body. It also helps the intestines, liver and pancreas, although its effects are minor in these organs. In the pancreas, it serves to trigger the production of digestive enzymes. In the liver, it helps in the production of bile. Its role in the intestines is to aid in the movement of food through the lower part of the digestive tract.
Sometimes it is necessary for doctors to monitor a person’s gastrin production. This can be done, for example, when diseases involving the digestive system are suspected. For example, this test may be done to check for abnormal growths in a person’s pancreas or stomach lining cells. It can also be done to reveal tumors in the intestines. Such tests can also prove useful in detecting diseases such as pernicious anemia, a type of blood disorder.
To test for gastrin, medical professionals typically perform an intravenous secretin test. This involves taking a sample of the patient’s blood and then injecting a digestive hormone called secretin into one of their veins. Another blood sample is taken when the patient is injected and further sampling follows every five minutes after the injection for the first quarter hour. Finally, another blood sample is taken 30 minutes after the secretin injection. Results are usually available within a couple of days of testing.
While high levels of gastrin can indicate cancers or blood disorders, there are other conditions associated with elevated levels of the hormone. For example, kidney failure and some types of ulcers may be to blame. On the other hand, low levels of the hormone can also indicate medical conditions. For example, low levels have been associated with hypothyroidism.
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