Effects of celiacectomy and stellatectomy on gastric mucosal innervation and acid secretion in the dog.

The effect of surgical excision of the celiac and superior mesenteric ganglia and the stellate ganglia, respectively, on gastric acid secretion and adrenergic innervation of gastric mucosa was studied in five dogs. After removal of the abdominal ganglia, there was a significant increase in acid secretion while there was a marked decrease in the number of adrenergic nerve terminals in the mucosa. When, addition, the stellate ganglia were excised, acid secretion increased slightly in two dogs, while little change in mucosal innervation was noted. These data suggest that the adrenergic innervation of the stomach has an inhibitory role in the control of acid secretion in the dog. Vagal adrenergic nerve fibers seem to be of limited importance in gastric acid production.