The effects of gastrin precursors have been discussed during recent years. However, the mechanism for their action, whether through a novel receptor on the parietal cell or a cholecystokinin-2 (CCK-2) receptor on the enterochromaffin like (ECL) cells, is still not settled. This study examines the effect of glycine-extended gastrin-17 (Gly-G-17), the main non-amidated gastrin precursor, on gastric acid secretion and histamine release in the totally isolated vascularly perfused rat stomach. Glycine-extended gastrin-17 at the concentrations from 0.52 to 520 nmol L(-1) was administered to the totally isolated vascularly perfused rat stomach. Glycine-extended gastrin-17 at 52 or 520 nmol L(-1), and gastrin-17 at 0.52 nmol L(-1)were co-administered to examine whether glycine-extended gastrin augmented maximal gastrin stimulated acid secretion and histamine release. Both Gly-G-17 at 52 nmol L(-1) and gastrin-17 (G-17) at 0.52 nmol L(-1) were administered together with the histamine-2 receptor antagonist ranitidine at 10 micromol L(-1). Gastric acid and venous histamine output were measured. Glycine-extended gastrin-17 at lower concentrations from 0.52 to 5.2 nmol L(-1) did not stimulate gastric acid output or histamine release, whereas higher concentrations from 52 to 520 nmol L(-1) elicited a concentration-dependent increase in acid secretion and histamine release. The outputs of acid and histamine at 520 nmol L(-1) Gly-G-17 were at the same level as those found for G-17 at its maximally effective concentration of 0.52 nmol L(-1). Glycine-extended gastrin-17 at maximally effective concentration of 520 nmol L(-1) did not augment maximal gastrin stimulated acid secretion or histamine release. Ranitidine inhibited G-17 and Gly-G-17 stimulated acid secretion to a similar degree. This study confirms that the stimulatory effect of Gly-G-17 on gastric acid secretion is via a CCK-2 receptor on the ECL cell.