Elevated intracranial pressure stimulates gastric contractility in the rat.

The gastric contractile response to elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) was studied in conscious rats. Elevation of intracranial pressure to 20 mm Hg was associated with a marked increase in the amplitude of gastric contractions (70-90% over baseline) without any change in contractile frequency (5.2 +/- .5 contractions per min). The increase in contractility continued for 45 min following release of the pressure. Vagotomy completely blocked the increase in gastric contractility seen with elevation in ICP. We conclude that acute elevation of intracranial pressure in rats results in increased force of gastric contractions. The forceful contractions persist despite release of the pressure and the increased contractile force is vagally mediated.