Influence on plasma levels of somatostatin, gastrin, glucagon, insulin and VIP-like immunoreactivity in peripheral venous blood of anaesthetized cats induced by low intensity afferent stimulation of the sciatic nerve.

The objective of the present study was to investigate whether gastrointestinal hormones can be released in response to low intensity afferent activation of the sciatic nerve. Experiments were performed on anaesthetized cats in which the sciatic nerve was stimulated electrically at 3 Hz, to V and 0.2 ms. Blood samples were collected in a peripheral vein and the plasma levels of somatostatin, gastrin, glucagon, insulin and VIP-like immunoreactivity (below referred to as somatostatin, gastrin, glucagon, insulin and VIP) were recorded by radioimmunoassay. Afferent stimulation of the sciatic nerve caused immediate (approximately 15 min long) changes of the levels of all the above mentioned peptides. Somatostatin, gastrin and glucagon levels rose significantly, whereas in the case of insulin and VIP a significant relationship between the effect of sciatic nerve stimulation and basal levels was established. Thus, insulin and VIP levels decreased when basal levels were high and increased when basal levels were low. The secretion of gastrointestinal and pancreatic hormones is in part regulated by the autonomic nervous system. It is suggested that afferent stimulation of the sciatic nerve causes a reflex activation of the vagal and/or the splanchnic nerves, which in turn affects the release rate of the above-mentioned hormones. In conclusion, these data show that the release of gastrointestinal hormones can be influenced by low intensity stimulation of the sciatic nerve. The physiological trigger of these responses may be touching of the skin.