Does Alcohol Stimulate Gastric Secretion by Liberating Histamine?

Abstract

The stimulation of gastric secretion by alcohol is similar to the stimulation by histamine in a number of ways. They both stimulate the secretion of a juice that is highly acid but relatively low in peptic power. 1 The stimulating effect of alcohol, like that of histamine, is much more resistant to the inhibitory effect of atropine than is the usual meal stimulus. 2 , 3 Similarly the stimulating effect of alcohol, like that of histamine, is more resistant to the inhibitory effect of fat feeding than is the usual meal stimulus. 3 Such similarities suggest the possibility that these two substances, alcohol and histamine, act upon the stomach by a similar mechanism. There is no known reason to suppose that histamine acts through the mediation of alcohol, while there are some reasons to suppose that alcohol may act through the mediation of histamine. In the first place the general nature of the pharmacological action of alcohol is that of a depressant, so that a bona fide stimulation of gastric secretion is not consistent with its usual effects. In the second place a large variety of substances, such as ether, chloroform, methyl dichloride, glycerol, saponin, 4 , 5 , 6 etc., have the property of stimulating gastric secretion when introduced into the intestine. These substances, like alcohol, have the common properties of producing hemolysis and altering cellular permeability. Of more interest, a number of them have been shown to be capable of liberating histamine from mammalian tissues. 7 That some or all of these substances may owe their ability to stimulate gastric secretion to their ability to liberate histamine may be implied from the data available.