Gastrin is a linear peptide hormone secreted by the walls of the pyloric canal ends. The pyloric canal is the area or the junction between the stomach and the duodenum, where the stomach connects the small intestine of mammals.

Gastrin is released into the bloodstream when food enters the stomach, and is carried by the circulatory system to the gastric cells in the stomach wall, which triggers the secretion of gastric juice.

The gastric juice primarily constitutes hydrochloric acid and pepsinogen.

Hydrochloric acid helps break apart fibrous matter in food and kills bacteria that may have been ingested, and pepsinogen is a precursor of the protein-splitting enzyme pepsin.

Functions of Gastrin

• Gastrin contributes to the gastrocolic reflex
• It plays a virtual role in the relaxation of the ileocecal valve
• It helps in stimulating parietal cell maturation and fundal growth
• It induces pancreatic secretions and gallbladder emptying
• It increases antral muscle mobility and promotes stomach contractions
• It induces the chief cells to secrete pepsinogen and the zymogen, which is an inactive form of the digestive enzyme pepsin
• It increases the ability of the antral contractions against the pylorus and relaxes the pyloric sphincter, which increases the rate of gastric emptying
• Gastrin may impact lower oesophagal sphincter (LES) tone, causing it to contract – although pentagastrin, rather than endogenous gastrin, may be the cause.

This article concludes with an introduction to gastrin and its importance.

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