Effect of sympathetic stimulation on gastric secretion of pepsinogen

Abstract

In dogs the stimulation of the sympathetic fibers innervating a segment of resting gastric mucosa of the corpus did not augment the basal secretion of pepsinogen when the frequency of stimulation varied between 1 and 10/sec. At rates of 15/sec. or higher the pepsinogen output was markedly increased. Secretion of hydrochloric acid was not elicited by sympathetic stimulation alone. The output of pepsinogen was increased transiently by histamine; however, the concomitant use of histamine and sympathetic stimulation even at low frequency (less than 10/sec.) resulted in a high output of pepsinogen for a long period of time. These findings are considered to be evidence that the pepsinogen-secreting glands are stimulated by histamine. Intravenous Dibenzyline antagonized the effect of the sympathetic stimulation. The transitory effect of histamine on pepsinogen secretion and the role of the sympathetic thereon are discussed.