Effect of ischemic anoxia on myoelectrical and mechanical activity of the totally isolated canine stomach.

Electrical and mechanical activities were recorded from the totally isolated canine stomach perfused with homologous blood of a living oxygenator-supported dog. Stagnant ischemic anoxia was induced by closing inflow and outflow blood from the isolated organ for various periods of time up to four hours. Recording of electrical and mechanical activity was performed prior to, during, and after the anoxic periods. After a given period of ischemia, blood was recirculated for ten minutes, and the pentagastrin was injected into the gastric artery. After up to three hours of anoxia, stomachs were able to show recordable electrical activity when perfused for ten minutes with homologous blood. Up to this period of three hours, stomachs also responded to the injection of pentagastrin. Pentagastrin accelerated the normalization of electrical and mechanical activity of previously anoxic stomachs. After 3.5 to 4.0 hours of anoxia, recirculation of blood through the stomach and injection of pentagastrin had no effect on electrical and mechanical activity of the gastric musculature.