Vagotomy effect on the content and synthesis of acetylcholine in autonomic ganglia in dog stomach.

The effect of total, selective and highly selective vagotomy was studied on the content and synthesis of acetylcholine in the tissues of the gastric fundus and pyloric part of the stomach in mongrel dogs of either sex aged 3 to 6 years. Total vagotomy produced after 3 weeks a non-significant rise in the amount and a highly significant increase of the synthesis of ACh in the fundus, and a significant increase in the amount and synthesis of ACh in the pyloric part. Six weeks after the procedure the Ch content of the fundus and pyloric part decreased statistically significantly, while the synthesis rate was not different from the initial one. Three weeks after selective vagotomy the ACh content of the fundus and pyloric part was significantly increased. The rate of ACh synthesis was normal. Six weeks after vagotomy the content of ACh and its synthesis in the fundus were similar to those before vagotomy. In the same time the ACh synthesis rate was significantly decreased in the pyloric part, while the ACh content there was similar to the control value. Highly selective vagotomy with denervation of the fundus and corpus of the stomach but with maintenance of the innervation of the pyloric part caused after 3 weeks a rise of the ACh content of the fundus tissues. The ACh synthesis rate was not different from the normal one. In the pyloric part the ACh content was significantly decreased and the synthesis of ACh was somewhat inhibited.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)