Gastric emptying and secretion in the milk-fed calf

1. For a few weeks, immediately post-natally, the abomasum of the ruminant stomach can be regarded as the analogue of the simple stomach for at this time food passes directly to the abomasum because of closure of the oesophageal groove.2. Using standard fractional and serial test meal techniques discussed by Hunt (1956) and adapted for use in the calf, abomasal emptying, acid and pepsin secretion have been examined. Phenol red was used as a marker to measure volume changes of the test meal.3. Abomasal emptying is exponential in character whether large or small volumes of fluid are instilled into the abomasum. The initial and end phase of emptying shows variable rates between animals.4. Glucose and lactose solutions inhibit abomasal emptying as well as acid production.5. Sodium chloride and sodium bicarbonate of low concentration, near isotonic with blood plasma, stimulate abomasal emptying but the bicarbonate is most effective. Hypertonic solutions of these salts inhibit abomasal emptying.6. Pepsin secretion in the abomasum of the calf is not affected by test meals of glucose, lactose, sodium chloride or sodium bicarbonate.7. These results shows a great similarity between the physiology of the abomasum of the milk-fed calf and the simple stomach. This suggests that the same duodenal receptors, discussed by Hunt & Knox (1968), which control gastric movement in man are also effective in controlling gastric emptying in the milk-fed calf.