The amounts of acid and of pepsin secreted by the stomach in response to a meal and to two dose levels of histamine and insulin have been compared in eight dogs with vagally-innervated pouches. The greatest acid output occurred after a 'maximal' dose of histamine, while the output after a meat meal usually exceeded that after either dose level of insulin. Feeding was better simulated, in the secretion it evoked, by 0-45 pug./kg./min. of histamine than by any other stimulus used.Large doses of histamine appeared to inhibit pepsin secretion in comparison with a submaximal dose. Both doses of -insulin stimulated pepsin secretion to a greater degree than did feeding.COMPARATIVE studies on the gastric secretory response to histamine, insulin hypoglycemia, and feeding have been described by several authors [Andersson et al., 1958;Babkin, 1950;Bucher et at., 1941;Davis and Brooks, 1963; Gregory, 1962]. However, a comparison between the acid and pepsin response to various doses of these pharmacological agents and to feeding has not been reported. This study was designed to investigate gastric secretion in response to all the above mentioned forms of stimulation in dogs equipped with vagally innervated pouches.
METHODSEight dogs were prepared with vagally-innervated gastric pouches as described by Thomas [1942] and modified by Watman and Nasset [1950]. To obtain these preparations, we operated upon fourteen other dogs which proved to have incomplete mucosal bridges between the main stomach and the pouch. Six were recognized postoperatively and the others perforated between 1 and 3 months after the surgery.Glucose and saline solution was given intravenously for the first two postoperative days. Milk was offered on the 3rd day and pablum was added on the 4th and 5th days. Water was given ad libitum after the 4th day and canned dog food was begun in small amounts on the 5th day. After the 10th postoperative day, the animals were on their usual diet.We believe that suturing all three layers of the mucosal bridge with 3-0 silk instead of catgut, and bringing the stainless steel pouch cannula through the abdominal wall just to the left of the midline rather than laterally, have given a lower incidence of breakdown of the mucosal septum.