Influence of Mechanical Factors on “Basal” Gastric Secretion.

Abstract

In dogs with autotransplanted gastric pouches, it has been found (in confirmation of the observations of Pavlov, Kunde and others on Pavlov-pouch dogs) that the feeding of 100-300 gm. broken bones with a cereal gruel in the evening almost invariably causes a marked secretion of gastric juice the following morning (18-24 hours later). This “hypersecretion” does not occur immediately following the gruel, but the effect of the meal persists and is enhanced 12-18 hours afterwards. Roentgenological observations have not always revealed a shadow in the stomach, but dogs killed 18-20 hours after the bone feeding always show some pieces of bones with little or no food residue in the pyloric antrum.

Neither the gruel itself nor a 200 gm. meat meal gives rise to “hypersecretion”. The bones (2 cm. long) have the same effect whether raw, or boiled for 72 hours. Bone chips (less than 1 cm. long) have a much smaller and more variable effect, while finely ground, incinerated or decalcified bones are without influence. 30 gm. calcium lactate, 50 gm. calcium carbonate powder and 40 gm. marble chips (1-2 cm.³) are all ineffective. Intravenous injection of calcium inhibits. The causal factor is thus due neither to organic secretagogues nor to calcium. 200 gm. of pumice stones (1-2 cm.³) plus 150 gm. of meat produce a slight increase of the morning “basal” secretion.

The examples in Table I indicate the increase in the basal secretion observed.

The evidence strongly suggests that “gastric hypersecretion” may arise as a result of a purely mechanical factor acting upon the pyloric humoral mechanism. Our results corroborate Savitsch's 1 work with glass beads in pyloric pouches and may lend support to his conclusion that the pyloric humoral mechanism is under nervous control.