Gastric emptying and secretion in the calf on duodenal infusion of tryptophan, tryptamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine.

1. Gastric emptying, gastric acid and pepsinogen secretion were assessed simultaneously in the conscious calf using the test meal and duodenal perfusion technique (Bell & Mostaghni, 1975).2. When 60 mM-HCl was infused into the duodenum, gastric emptying was arrested but both acid and pepsinogen secretion continued at a low level. Duodenal infusion with isotonic NaHCO(3) caused rapid exponential emptying of the test meal and acid and pepsinogen output was more than doubled.3. Duodenal infusion of amino acids in isotonic NaHCO(3) did not affect the rapid emptying, except infusion with tryptophan, which caused a measureable degree of inhibition of emptying, with concomitant effects on acid and pepsinogen secretion4. Tryptamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) incorporated in low concentration into isotonic NaHCO(3) also produced depression of gastric emptying, acid and pepsinogen levels comparable to the response initiated by acid infusate. Tryptophan was effective only in non-physiological amounts while 5-HT and tryptamine were active in smaller doses.5. Our results suggest that the inhibition of gastric emptying following duodenal infusion of tryptophan noted by Stephens, Woolson & Cooke (1975) may be due to the duodenal synthesis of its biogenic amine derivatives tryptamine and 5-HT.6. The level of activity of the three gastric functions, emptying, acid secretion and pepsinogen secretion appears to be linked. A single stimulus, therefore, could evoke a duodenal receptor or receptors to mediate or suppress activity of the gastric smooth muscle and secretory cells through interrelated mechanisms. The effect of some duodenal infusates, however, produces some variability in response which suggests differential activation of different receptors with consequent variable motor activity on effector cells.