REGULATION OF SECRETION OF MUCUS FROM THE GASTRIC ANTRUM*

Abstract

Summary: Gastric secretion of mucus was studied in dogs by collecting secretions from vagally‐denervated or ‐innervated gastric antral pouches. Mucous secretions were studied for volume and for concentration of nitrogen, hexsoses, hexsosamines, L‐fucose and sialic acid concentrations in dialyzed, lyophilized mucosubstance. Gastric mucosal content of mucus of rats was measured by analyzing the concentration of hexsosamine and sialic acid in freeze‐dried gastric mucosal scrapings. Vagal stimulation of the gastric antrum and administration of cholinomime‐tic agents had no detectable influence on either the volume or the biochemical composition of antral mucus. Insulin‐induced hypoglycemia appeared to depress the secretion of mucus. Adrenergic stimulation was without influence. Serotonin had a strong stimulatory effect on the volume of mucus secretion but did not alter its biochemical composition. Cortisone had a profound inhibitory influence on the secretion of mucus and altered its biochemical composition by decreasing the concentration of sialic acid. Parathyroid extract was found to increase gastric mucosal content of mucus in rats.