Acid secretion from the cells bordering the gastric fundus may be stimulated by a direct action of histamine or pentagastrin... or from electrical stimulation of the vagus as used to control vagotomy. It is not known, however, whether this latter effect is due to direct stimulation of the lining cells or follows hypersecretion of gastrin. In order to clarify this point, a stimulus was applied to the isolated vagus during vagotomy, and gastric acid and peripheral blood gastrin levels measured. Increased or decreased gastrin levels were noted in about the same number of cases. No direct relationship with pH variations was observed, and confirmation that vagal stimulation affects the lining cells through the intermediary of increased systemic blood gastrin levels was not obtained.
Animals Dogs