Gastric secretion after pentagastrin and histamine in the basal secreting ferret

Abstract

Gastric secretory experiments were conducted with pentagastrin and histamine on the chronic fistula ferret in order to evaluate the physiologic similarity of this preparation to man. Results indicated that the experimental model is suitable for gastric studies, and that the conscious ferret has a consistent basal secretion, uniquely similar to man. In addition, the ferret is highly sensitive to pentagastrin, like man and the cat and dog. Peak acid output in the chronic fistula ferret was observed following a single intraperitoneal dose of 10 μg. pentagastrin/kg. Protease output was also significantly increased following 2 μg. pentagastrin/kg. The secretory outputs following maximal pentagastrin stimulation in this preparation exceeded the maximal outputs following maximal histamine stimulation, although histamine was also a potent stimulant. Due to the consistent basal secretion observed in this species, it was possible to compare maximal stimulated responses to basal secretion in individual animals. The maximal response of individual animals correlated well with the level of basal secretion of acid. Because of the foregoing characteristics, and because of the gastric anatomic similarity to man and surgical tolerance, the ferret appears to be a suitable model for studies of gastric physiology.