We have studied the effect of gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) on exocrine and endocrine secretion in the totally isolated, vascularly perfused rat stomach with or without concomitant infusion of a potent somatostatin antiserum. GRP (1 nM) showed a marginal acid-stimulatory effect (base line, 11.6 +/- 2.3 mumol/60 min, and after GRP, 20.0 +/- 2.2 mumol/60 min; p = 0.05). GRP significantly increased gastrin and somatostatin release to the venous effluent, and the venous gastrin concentration increased significantly during concomitant infusion of somatostatin antiserum. Furthermore, GRP inhibited histamine liberation, and somatostatin antiserum reversed this effect. The antiserum did not significantly stimulate acid secretion. Thus, the present study shows that GRP directly or indirectly affects both acid secretion and the release of gastrin, somatostatin, and histamine in the rat stomach.