Lateral hypothalamic sites in cats for stimulation of gastric antral contractions.

Electrical stimulation through a bipolar electrode introduced into either the left or right lateral hypothalamus of anesthetized cats by means of a stereotaxic instrument elicited stimulus-bound phasic antral contractions in the anesthetized cat's stomach of much greater force than recorded under basal conditions. There was no change in gastric acid output. The response was abolished by bilateral cervical vagotomy or atropine. Stimulation during an intravenous infusion of pentagastrin did not alter the gastric acid secretory response. A hypothalamic vagal and cholinergic excitatory gastric antral motor pathway to the stomach has been demonstrated, independent of an acid secretory response.