SOME FACTORS INFLUENCING STIMULATORY EFFECT OF ETHANOL ON GASTRIC ACID SECRETION DURING ANTRUM APPLICATION

Variations in gastric secretory response to antral application of ethanol were studied in Heidenhain and Pavlov pouch dogs with isolated, innervated antral pouch, to disclose the influence of instillation pressure, temperature, concentration, pH and ion composition. Secretory response increased in 2 of 5 dogs and remained unchanged in 3 dogs during rise of installation pressure from 0 cm H2O to 20–30 cm H2O. Secretory responses were essentially alike, whether alcohol solutions were administered at room temperature or at body temperature. Threshold stimulatory concentration was 2–4% (v/v), optimal effect occurred at 8–16%, a decrease was usually observed at 32%. Antrum pouches were perfused with buffered ethanol solutions at pH values between 7.0 and 1.0. No significant difference of the stimulatory effect was noted within the pH range 7.0–3.0. At pH 2.0 the stimulatory action was decreased by about 40% and at pH 1.0 almost totally suppressed. The slope of the pH curve seems to be independent of the ethanol concentration. The pH curves for the stimulatory effect of alcohol in the antrum and for vagus stimulation are almost identical. The ethanol effect was inhibited by high concentrations of K+ and Ca++ but uneffected by corresponding concentrations of Na+ and Mg++. © 1969 Scandinavian Physiological Society