The role of adrenaline and of the vagus in gastrin release and acid secretion in dogs.

Serum gastrin, gastric acid secretion and plasma adrenaline in response to intravenous injection of 2-deoxy-D-glucose and to insulin were measured in six dogs with gastric fistulae before and after denervation of the antrum and the intestine (antral-intestinal vagotomy). Serum gastrin and gastric acid secretion were also measured in the same dogs during intravenous infusion of adrenaline in doses which produced an elevation of plasma adrenaline to levels occurring during hypoglycaemia and after the injection of 2-deoxy-D-glucose. Antral-intestinal vagotomy reduced basal gastrin concentration slightly and basal gastric acid secretion considerably. The rise in serum gastrin in response to 2-deoxy-D-glucose and hypoglycaemia was abolished while the increase in gastric acid secretion was reduced after antral-intestinal vagotomy. Beef meal-stimulated gastrin secretion was the same before and after vagotomy. Intravenous infusion of adrenaline had no effect on either serum gastrin or gastric acid secretion. It is concluded that in the dog, in contradistinction to man, gastrin release after insulin is dependent on an intact vagus. Release of gastrin by adrenaline in the dog does not appear to be physiological since it is not achieved by the amount of adrenaline released in response to hypoglycaemia.