Gastric diversion: a method for H+ output estimation in the rat

Area of Science:

• Physiology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Determining basal acid output in rats is crucial for gastrointestinal research.
• The Shay rat procedure, involving pylorus ligation, is a common method but can cause gastric mucosal injury.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate 'gastric diversion' as a safe and accurate alternative to pylorus ligation for measuring rat basal acid output over a 6-hour period.

Main Methods:

• Gastric secretion was collected into a plastic bag distal to the pyloric sphincter.
• The method was assessed for reproducibility, gastric distension, mucosal injury, and effectiveness in collecting secretions.
• The impact of atropine and cimetidine on acid output was also investigated.

Main Results:

• Gastric diversion did not cause gastric distension, visible lesions, or mucosal injury.
• The method demonstrated high reproducibility of basal acid output measurements.
• Atropine and cimetidine significantly reduced the measured acid output, validating the method's sensitivity.

Conclusions:

• Gastric diversion is an accurate and suitable technique for estimating rat basal acid output.
• It serves as a valuable substitute for the Shay rat procedure, preventing gastric mucosal injury during 6-hour collections.