Stimulatory effect of pentobarbital and some anesthetics on gastric secretion in the continuously perfused stomach in rats under urethane anesthesia.

Effects of some anesthetics (pentobarbital, thiopental, alpha-chloralose and urethane) on gastric acid secretion were studied in the continuously perfused stomach in rats. Under urethane anesthesia, pentobarbital, thiopental and alpha-chloralose showed a definite stimulation on gastric acid secretion. Pretreatment with atropine or hexamethonium abolished the pentobarbital-induced acid secretion. Pentobarbital and thiopental did not elicit acid secretion in bilateral truncal vagotomized rats. In spinal rats, pentobarbital also stimulated acid secretion, but urethane, which was subcutaneously administered, reduced spontaneous acid output. The present results indicated that some anesthetics could stimulate gastric secretion in the anesthetized rat in contrast to the previously described inhibitory effect in the Shay rat.