Significance of Innervation in the Function of the Gastric Antrum

Abstract

The antrum of the stomach in dogs was excluded by constructing a membrane of gastric mucosa separating the cavity of the antrum from that of the corpus. A fistula was made of the pylorus and intestinal continuity re-established by anastomosing the corpus of the stomach to the open end of the duodenum. A vagus denervated Heidenhain pouch was also prepared. With this type of preparation it was found that insulin hypoglycemia produced a marked stimulation of gastric secretion from the Heidenhain pouch. Furthermore, with the antrum excluded from contact with the gastric contents but with its innervation preserved, the secretory response of the Heidenhain pouch to the ingestion of food was not only not reduced but was actually prolonged. These effects can be accounted for by peristaltic activity in the antrum induced by the peristalsis of digestion in the main stomach and enhanced by the absence of the usual inhibitory effect of acid gastric content on the release of gastrin. Insulin hypoglycemia produced vigorous contractions in the isolated antrum with intact vagus innervation.