The effect of varying oral doses of 11R, 16, 16-trimethyl prostaglandin E2 (TmPGE2) on meal-stimulated gastric acid secretion and serum gastrin concentrations was studied in 10 male subjects with asymptomatic duodenal ulcer disease. A liquid protein meal was infused intragastrically 0.5 h and 3.5 h after drug administration. TmPGE2 inhibited gastric acid secretion in a dose dependent manner during the first meal and no significant effect was observed during the second meal. Except for the highest dose, no TmPGE2 was detected in plasma 3 h after drug administration. The degree of inhibition of meal-stimulated gastric acid was positively correlated with the plasma level of TmPGE2, but it was not due to inhibition of postprandial gastrin release. The results indicate that oral TmPGE2 inhibits meal-stimulated gastric acid secretion but not gastrin release in humans with asymptomatic duodenal ulcer disease.