Ethanol-induced changes in gastric mucosal content of cyclic AMP and ATP in the rat

The stomach of urethane-anaesthetised rats was perfused with 10% (v/v) ethanol. At 40 min, the secretion of acid was strongly inhibited and the contents of cyclic AMP and ATP were lowered in the superficial mucosa, but not in whole gastric mucosa. After discontinuation of the ethanol perfusion, the rate of gastric acid output as well as the cyclic AMP and ATP levels recovered. Most of the acid-secreting parietal cells were found in the superficial mucosa where the changes of cyclic AMP and ATP took place. The results suggest that lowering of the mucosal contents of cyclic AMP and ATP may be involved in the ethanol-induced inhibition of the gastric acid output.