The H+/K(+)-ATPase is the dimeric enzyme responsible for H+ secretion by the gastric parietal cells. The present study examined the response of rat fundic mRNA levels of H+/K(+)-ATPase alpha-subunit and somatostatin to the inhibition of H+/K(+)-ATPase enzyme activity and gastric pH elevation by oral omeprazole administration. Omeprazole inhibits the alpha-subunit of H+/K(+)-ATPase covalently and stabilizes stimulated morphology of the parietal cell. After a single administration of omeprazole (100 mg/kg), H+/K(+)-ATPase alpha-subunit mRNA levels increased significantly by 57% at 3 h and remained elevated for 6 h, returning to the basal level by 24 h. After multiple administrations of omeprazole (100 mg/kg per day, every 24 h for 3 days), H+/K(+)-ATPase alpha-subunit mRNA levels were already elevated at the time of the last dose, reached maximum at 6 h (95% increase above control), and returned to the pre-treatment level after 36 h. Nuclear run-on assay indicated H+/K(+)-ATPase gene transcription was significantly increased by omeprazole pretreatment in vivo. In contrast, a significant decrease in fundic somatostatin mRNA occurred at 12 h after a single dose, and the inhibition was more pronounced and lasted longer after multiple doses of omeprazole. These data indicate that omeprazole, while effectively inhibiting H+/K(+)-ATPase activity, induces H+/K(+)-ATPase gene expression in the parietal cells. An inverse relationship exists between the regulation of somatostatin gene expression in fundic D-cells and H+/K(+)-ATPase gene expression. The increase in H+/K(+)-ATPase alpha-subunit mRNA could be due to alterations in extracellular gastrin/somatostatin ratios or could be induced by intracellular effects of omeprazole.