Effects of antral distension on pancreatic exocrine secretion in dogs: evidence for a short reflex.

In chloralose anesthetized dogs and decerebrated dogs whose pyloric sphincter was submucosally ligated, the pancreatic exocrine secretory response to antral distension was studied. Distensions of the antral pouch with Tyrode's solution and 0.1 N HCl caused graded rises in pancreatic flow and protein and bicarbonate outputs. The serum gastrin concentration gradually rose after the distention with Tyrode's solution, while no rise in serum gastrin was elicited by acid distension. After cervical vagotomy, a reduced pancreatic response persisted but no rise in the serum gastrin was seen. After splanchnicectomy following vagotomy, the pancreatic response became greater than before splanchnicectomy. This pancreatic response was observed even after caeliac and superior mesenteric ganglionectomies, but was completely abolished by an external tight ligature around the pyloric sphincter, or by administration of hexamethonium or atropine sulfate. The results suggest the existence of an antropancreatic short reflex in addition to a long route vago-vagal reflex.