Response of chronic denervated gastric pouches of rats to food and histamine

¹ Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana

The volume output and hydrochloric acid secretion from the denervated gastric pouch of the rat in response to food and histamine were studied. Food was given at three dose levels—1.25, 2.5, and 5.0 g—and histamine (as free base) was given subcutaneously at dose levels of 0.34, 0.7, 1.4, and 2.8 mg/kg. The results show that the chronic denervated gastric pouch of the rat responds in a graded manner to both food and histamine in a certain dose range. Although rats are not as sensitive to histamine as humans and dogs, the chronic gastric pouch of the conscious rat is far more sensitive to histamine than the stomach of the pyloric-ligated or anesthetized rat. The feasibility of using this preparation for testing the effect of agents inhibiting food- or histamine-stimulated gastric secretion is discussed.