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Updated: Jun 17, 2026
05:19
Surgical Models of Gastroesophageal Reflux with Mice
Published on: August 25, 2015
Summary
Acid in the lower esophagus stimulates gastric secretion in humans. Hiatal repair surgery reduces this response, especially in patients with esophagitis, indicating its impact on digestive function.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Digestive Physiology
Background:
- The presence of acid in the lower esophagus is known to potentially stimulate gastric secretion.
- Previous research (Giles, Clark, and Buchan, 1968) suggested a link between esophageal acid and gastric secretion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To confirm that acid in the lower esophagus stimulates gastric secretion in humans.
- To investigate the effect of hiatal repair on the gastric secretory response to acid.
- To compare acid-induced gastric secretion in symptomatic hiatus hernia patients and controls.
Main Methods:
- Acid perfusion of the lower esophagus was performed.
- Gastric secretion was measured before and during acid perfusion.
- Patients with symptomatic hiatus hernia (with and without esophagitis) and healthy controls were studied.
- The effect of hiatal repair on gastric response was examined.
Main Results:
- Acid in the lower esophagus was confirmed to stimulate gastric secretion in humans.
- The gastric secretory response to acid perfusion was significantly greater in symptomatic hiatus hernia patients compared to controls.
- Basal and acid-perfusion-stimulated gastric outputs were lower in hiatus hernia patients with esophagitis than in those without.
- Hiatal repair reduced the gastric response to acid in both groups of hiatus hernia patients.
- This reduction was particularly pronounced in patients with esophagitis.
Conclusions:
- The presence of acid in the lower esophagus stimulates gastric secretion in humans.
- Symptomatic hiatus hernia exacerbates the gastric response to esophageal acid.
- Hiatal repair surgery attenuates the gastric secretory response to esophageal acid, especially in the presence of esophagitis.
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