Splanchnic nerve inhibition of gastric acid secretion and mucosal blood flow in anaesthetized cats

Abstract

1. Efferent electrical splanchnic nerve stimulation will significantly inhibit gastric acid secretion and mucosal blood flow (MBF) stimulated by either large I.V. doses of pentapeptide or histamine, if the rise in blood pressure is prevented.2. Splanchnic stimulation will also reduce the increase in MBF in response to infusions of isopropylnoradrenaline, if the blood pressure rise is prevented.3. Evidence is presented which suggests that the splanchnic nerve inhibitory effect is not due to reducing the amount of stimulant arriving at the gastric mucosa.4. By analysing the responses to histamine, when acid secretion is accompanied by a large MBF relative to the pentapeptide responses, it is suggested that the inhibitory effect of splanchnic nerve stimulation is due to vasoconstriction.5. It remains possible that there is a direct inhibitory effect on the parietal cells.