The influence of PYY on stimulated gastric acid secretion and the possible role of gastric somatostatin was measured in rats. PYY, infused intravenously at a dose of 800 pmol/kg/h, reduced pentagastrin (20.8 nmol/kg/h) stimulated gastric acid secretion by 34 +/- 3%, whereas in controls acid secretion remained constant throughout the 90 min observation period. In a second series the effect of PYY on the endogenous gastric somatostatin-like immunoreactivity and gastrin-release was tested in the isolated, vascularly perfused rat stomach. PYY perfused at concentrations of 10 pM to 100 nM did not change either somatostatin or gastrin secretion from the rat stomach in vitro. The study shows that PYY suppressed acid secretion in the rat. Endogenous somatostatin or gastrin is unlikely to mediate the inhibitory effect of PYY on acid production.