Experimentally induced variations in canine gastric blood flow and its distribution

Abstract

Total gastric blood flow and its distribution between antrum and corpus, and to the mucosa, submucosa, and muscularis of the corpus were measured in dogs under the influence of several agents known to affect gastric secretion. Histamine, infused intravenously or administered chronically in beeswax intramuscularly, produced increases in cardiac output, the fraction of the output going to the stomach and, hence, gastric tissue perfusion Epinephrine infusions also caused significant increases in cardiac output and gastric perfusion. Norepinephrine was the only agent that raised gastric vascular resistance; despite an increase in cardiac output, blood flow to the stomach fell. Neither intravenous secretin nor inspired 10% CO₂ affected gastric perfusion. All agents except histamine increased the antrum/corpus perfusion ratio. Only norepinephrine altered the distribution of flow to the several tissues of the corpus; it caused a shift of flow from mucosa to muscle. The results provide no support for the frequently stated conclusion that gastric blood flow and secretion are closely related.