[Gastrin, cholinergic and alimentary stimulation of gastric acid secretion in awake rabbits with a Heidenham pouch].

Gastric acid secretion was studied in awake rabbits equipped with a Heidenhain pouch. The realisation of a pouch in the rabbit is reported for the first time. Post surgical complications were observed such as shocks, anaesthesia toxic effects, electrolytic impairments, skin burns and gastric ulcers. The continuous gastric secretion and the thinness of the muscularis are mainly responsible for the technical problems not observed in other species. Gastric acid secretion was high during basal periods in rabbits after 24 h of fasting with a collar to prevent any caecotrophia, which gives an empty stomach. It is equivalent to 20% of the acid output produced by pentagastrin (32 micrograms.kg-1.h-1). The highest acid output was obtained during carbaminoylcholine intravenous infusion (20 micrograms.kg-1.h-1) i.e. about twice that induced by pentagastrin. Regular dry diet did not produce any stimulation nor 2 DDG used as a control of complete vagal denervation of the pouch. Unlike in other species, gastric acid secretion of awake rabbit displays a preferential sensitivity to cholinergic stimulants and an insensitivity to regular diet which releases endogenous hormones humorally transmitted to the pouch. The use of rabbit isolated parietal cells or gastric glands to demonstrate the mechanisms of gastric acid secretion, makes it necessary to perform a complete physiological study of gastric secretion in the rabbit with the technique of the isolated pouch we describe here.