Abstract
We have developed an experimental procedure for studying the relation of nutrition to gastric function with the rat as the subject. Tentatively, we are determining the total acidity, the free HCl, and the mucin of gastric juice as a measure of gastric function. By “mucin” we mean that material which is precipitated by adding 4 volumes of alcohol to gastric juice and is determined as glucose by the orcinol method of Tilmans and Philippi. 1 Later we plan to study the enzyme and other constituents of the gastric juice.
As gastric stimulants we have used mecholyl (acetyl-β-methylcholine chloride) and histamine. The dosage used per kilo of body weight was 0.01 mg for mecholyl and 0.03 mg of ergamine phosphate for histamine. Each stimulant was dissolved in physiological saline and injected subcutaneously.
Our experimental procedure is as follows: Rats are placed in individual false-bottom cages and fasted for 48 or 72 hours. A meshed-wire jacket is placed upon the torso of each rat during the fasting period to prevent coprophagy and to keep the animal from licking its body, a process by which the rat ordinarily ingests considerable hair. This preparatory period of fasting in a jacket permits the rat's stomach to be cleared of solid contents and makes possible the collection of uncontaminated juice.
When a test is made the animal is anesthetized with nembutal and during the experiment nembutal is injected in small doses as needed to maintain anesthesia. A small incision is made in the abdomen and a tight ligature is tied around the duodenum near the pyloric sphincter. Such a ligature does not interfere with the nerve supply nor appreciably with the blood supply to the stomach and permits a secretory response of the whole stomach.
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