[Effects of esophageal distension on canine pancreatic exocrine secretion]

The pancreatic exocrine secretion responses to distension of the thoracic oesophagus were studied in chloralose anesthetized dogs and decerebrated dogs occluded the pyloric sphincter with submucosal ligature. In 79 of 149 distensions, the pancreatic outflow was increased by 70.6% of control value before the distension with latencies of one to five minutes. This response was accompanied by the increased protein and bicarbonate outputs of 83.1% and 303.0% of control value, respectively. In 68 of 149 distensions, the pancreatic outflow, protein and bicarbonate outputs were decreased by 23.2%, 17.1% and 29.1% of control value, respectively. After transthoracic vagotomy immediately above the diaphragm or administration of atropine, the increased response was abolished, but the decreased one was not. The decreased response was markedly reduced by guanethidine, and completely abolished after following adrenalectomy. Furthermore, it was completely abolished after splanchnicotomy, too. There was no relationship between the pancreatic exocrine secretion and the serum gastrin concentration before and after distension of the oesophagus. These results provide an evidence for the existence of the oesophago-pancreatic excitatory and inhibitory responses. The excitatory one is due to the vago-vagal reflex and the inhibitory one is due to the vago-splanchnic reflex.