The effects of acute oral administration of the dopaminergic drug, bromocriptin (5 mg), on basal and submaximal (1 and 3 microgram per kg bw given sc) and maximal (6 mug per kg bw) pentagastrin-stimulated gastric acid secretion and on basal and meal-induced gastrin release have been evaluated in healthy volunteers. Although basal and maximal pentagastrin-stimulated acid output did not change, the response to submaximal pentagastrin doses was significantly increased. Basal and stimulated serum gastrin concentrations were not modified, nor was fasting serum gastrin during chronic bromocriptine treatment (10 mg per day for 90 days) in acromegalic patients. As dopamine infusion is known to reduce basal and pentagastrin-induced gastric acid secretion, the presently reported effect of bromocriptine is not dependent on dopamine receptor stimulation. It is suggested that it might be due to alpha-adrenergic and/or serotoninergic antagonism, both actions being properties of bromocriptine. Alternatively, since bromocriptine, at variance with iv infused dopamine, crosses the blood-brain barrier, the effect of this drug on gastric function might depend on interference by centrally mediated actions on those directly exerted at the gastric level.