The effect of exendin-4, a peptide of the secretin-glucagon family with high homology of amino acid sequence with glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), on gastric hormone release was investigated in the isolated perfused rat stomach. Exendin-4 dose dependently stimulated somatostatin release up to 9-fold at a concentration of 10(-7) M whereas gastrin release was inversely inhibited by up to 63%. These effects could partially be reduced by concomitant perfusion of truncated exendin-4, exendin(9-39)amide. Similarly, stimulation of somatostatin secretion and inhibition of gastrin release induced by GLP-1(7-36)amide was partially reversed by exendin-4 (9-39)amide. These data are consistent with the assumption that exendin-4 and truncated GLP-1amide exert their effects on gastric D and G cell by interaction with the same receptor.