Influence of surgical sympathectomy on gastric secretion and ulceration in rats.

The influences of sympathectomy on gastrointestinal mucosa, gastric secretion, acute or chronic gastric ulcers were studied in rats. Uncer ether anesthesia, sympathectomy was performed by surgical removal of the celiac ganglion. Surgical sympathectomy per se produced no pathological changes in the gastrointestinal tract as determined by macroscopical observation 3, 10 or 20 days after operation. The volume of gastric juice and pepsin output were not influenced by the sympathectomy but gastric acid output was significantly increased in pylorus-ligated rats. The sympathectomy worsened the stress- and the indomethacin-induced ulcer and delayed the healing of chronic gastric ulcers a little but not significantly, and had no deteriorative influence on the reserpine-induced ulcers. In contrast, Shay ulcers, aspirin- or secrotonin-induced ulcers were significantly aggravated by sympathectomy. The loss of H+ ions and gain of Na+ ions in the gastric juice of pylorus-ligated and aspirin-treated rats were not affected by sympathectomy.