Gastric response to topical histamine; subcutaneous dose-response relation

¹ Gastrointestinal Physiology Research Laboratory, The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City

Canine Heidenhain and Pavlov pouches were filled with histamine solutions (2–10^–7 mg base/ml) for 30 min. Following drainage, secretion was collected continuously in 15-min samples. Volumes were generally too low for systematic acidity titrations; pHs yielded scant evidence of a response. In another series of experiments, topical application and subcutaneous injection were used conjointly, following a control run with subcutaneous injection alone (i.e., by the tandem experiment procedure). These responses were more definitive but complex; i.e., the subcutaneous response tended to be augmented at lower concentrations, and partially or completely inhibited at higher ones. These results are analogous to a variety of phenomena reported by others, including the dose-response relation for subcutaneous histamine alone, the comparative responses to histamine injected by two different routes, the responses to topical application of cholinergic agents, alcohol, acetoacetamide, etc. This complex response to topical histamine is interpreted in terms of the Arndt-Schulz Law.

Note:
With the Technical Assistance of James F. Cereghini

Key Words: gastric secretion • secretion

Submitted on May 9, 1963