What is one effect of excessive gastrin secretion?

Excessive secretion of gastrin primarily leads to increased gastric acidity. Gastrin is a hormone produced by G cells in the stomach lining, and its main function is to stimulate the secretion of gastric acid by the parietal cells in the stomach. When there is an overproduction of gastrin, it causes the parietal cells to secrete more hydrochloric acid (HCl), which results in higher levels of acidity in the gastric environment.

This increased acidity can contribute to various gastrointestinal issues, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or peptic ulcers, due to the corrosive nature of excess acid. Understanding this principle is crucial in studying digestive physiology and the regulatory mechanisms involved in gastric acid secretion.