Relationship of antral and fundic vagal denervation to gastric secretion

¹ Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California

Vagus-denervated Heidenhain pouches were prepared in 11 dogs. After control observations were made, the effect was determined of vagal denervation of the antrum, followed by bilateral vagotomy, on the 24-hr output of gastric secretion, the response to histamine, and the response to a standard test meal. The effect of vagal denervation of the body and fundus of the stomach was studied in two additional dogs. Vagal denervation of the antrum produced a reduction in the 24-hr output of HCl, with a significant increase in secretion when followed by bilateral vagotomy. Fundic denervation produced a significant increase in secretion from the Heidenhain pouch. The results suggest that the denervated antrum is less responsive to stimuli than the innervated antrum; that antral denervation does not produce gastric stasis; that the increased secretion following vagotomy probably results from fundic denervation, rather than antral denervation; and that the increased secretory response to histamine following vagotomy suggests the presence of an antral inhibitory hormone.