[Character of Auerbach's plexus receptors in the stomach and small intestine]

The motility of the stomach and jejunum in 8 fed dogs with the intact vagus nerves was registered by the balloon method. Subcutaneous injection of benzohexonium (0.125--0.5 ml of 2.5% soltuion) and atropine (0.12--0.25 ml of 0.1% solution) or metacine (0.125--0.25 ml of 0.1% solution) to 6 dogs proved to induce a transition from digestive motility to the periodic form after a transient depression of the digestive motility. The same effect followed injection of 0.5--1.0 ml of 0.1% atropine only in 2 dogs and 1.0 ml of 0.1% metacine in 1 dog. Since retention of periodic motility following food consumption was inherent for vagotomized dogs, a conclusion was drawn that the experimental dog had "pharmacologic vagotomy". It was suggested that the muscarine receptors on the Auerbach's plexus cells exceeded the nicotine receptor in number.