The Role of Intrinsic Neural Plexuses in Release of Gastric Antral Gastrin

Abstract

THE EXISTENCE of a gastric hormone which stimulated acid secretion was first postulated by Edkins¹ in 1906. Some 42 years ago Grossman² clearly demonstrated its existence as liberated by various secretagogues. More recently, elaborate experiments by Oberhelman, et al³ and by Pe Thein and Schofield⁴ have shown that vagal stimulation can liberate gastrin.* The former suggested that increased peristaltic activity resulting from insulin hypoglycemic vagal stimulation or from the ingestion of food was the basic mechanism for the release of gastrin. But, because of the disassociation of motility and vagal gastrin release noted by Pe Thein and Schofield,⁴ it has been postulated that there are two types of cholinergic fibers in the gastric antrum; one that mediates gastrin release and one that mediates motility. The following study was designed to study further the intimate mechanism for the vagal release of gastrin. Method In each of